Reviews (2)

Useful, but Limited
As an American, I found this guide to be disorganized and spotty.Each of the climbs IS well described, but there is no overview of the different areas, no large scale maps, or even an index.Maybe if you already knowyour way around the alps, this is adequate, but if you want to actuallyfind out where in Switzerland the climb actually is, you'll be consultingother maps and guides. Great carry-along over- view guide for The Alps.
Well laid out and presented. Gives a good general outline of the 4000m+ summits, the most popular routes taken to climb, and generally good descriptions of what to expect along the way, with cautions given to appropriate areas of the route, etc.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alps    2. Guidebooks    3. Mountaineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills   

Reviews (1)

Ira's biography is a winner!
This book is a delight to read, a combination of photos and text that tell the story of Bob & Ira Spring and their families.Two of the Northwest's pioneering outdoor photographers, the Spring's have left a lasting legacy to everyone who loves the outdoors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists, Architects, Photographers    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Individual Photographer    7. Mountain Climbing    8. Mountaineering    9. Mountaineers    10. Naturalists    11. Photographers    12. Sports - General    13. Spring, Ira    14. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    15. United States    16. Biography: general    17. Climbing & mountaineering    18. Individual photographers    19. Travel writing   

Editorial Review

When David Breashears agreed to climb Mount Everest with an IMAX camera in order to film from the summit, he had no idea that his little expedition would become embroiled in a tragedy that would make headlines around the world. On May 10, 1996, two expeditions led by experienced Everest guides Rob Hall and Scott Fisher summited the mountain, only to suffer the loss of eight members--including the two leaders--on the way back down. At the time, Breashears and his filmmaking crew were at the base camp preparing for their own climb--originally planned for that same day but postponed after realizing there would already be several other groups on the summit. Instead of making a film, Breashears and company participated in the rescue and only later reached the summit of Everest to successfully complete their film.Read more

Reviews (46)

This Story Just Does Not Go Away...
I forget you how many years ago its been since this event took place.But last month I saw the story told yet again in a national "adventure" magazine.
A Big Book For A Big Mountain
National Geographic has put together another epic of a book, receiving a rare five stars from this reviewer team. Supported by outstanding color photographs and an array of writings by numerous writers, this is a valued item to keep.
Beautiful Photography; Okay Writing
Having recently read "High Exposure" by David Breashears, I had a feeling of deja vu all over again when I cracked open this tome.Seemed to me that pages were lifted from "Exposure" and copy-pasted into "Mountain".
Read more

Subjects:  1. (1996 :    2. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    3. MacGillivray Freeman IMAX/IWER    4. Mount Everest)    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineering accidents    7. Photo Essays    8. Photography    9. Pictorial works    10. Special Interest - Adventure    11. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Asia    12. Travel    13. Himalayas    14. India    15. Nature / General    16. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (5)

Trustworthy
This is one of only two books I would trust for reliable information about the West Buttress route of Denali.Very informative and practical!

Great Book
This an excellent guide if you've decided on the West Buttress route. Simple and to the point
This book was easy to read and provides a great historical overview of the mountain, what equipment you need and a detailed step by step guide to the West Buttress route with Maps from Brad Washburn. Although I would say this book is merely a warm up in the research you need to do and understand to climb Denali. A very practical guide. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Guidebooks    3. McKinley, Mount    4. McKinley, Mount (Alaska)    5. Mountain Climbing    6. Mountaineering    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Climbing & mountaineering    10. USA   

Reviews (1)

A wonderfully told tale with superb painted illustrations
Jonathan London's "The Waterfall" is the tale of a family--parents and two sons--going backpacking in the woods.When they all happen upon a pool, the sons strip down and go skinny-dipping and have a wonderful time.They toast marshmallows, gaze at the stars, and get a little bit spooked by weird noises in the night.But what they really want to spend their time doing is climbing the waterfall which flows into their swimming hole.The parents tell them it probably can't be done, but the boys are determined.Sure enough, they make it to the top and take home a wonderful memory of having overcome something that seemed bigger than they could handle.Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Hiking    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Nature & the Natural World - General    9. Rock climbing    10. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (4)

By far the worst guidebook...
Thiswas one of the worst guide books I have seen. If you've never been to the New do not buy this book. The driving directions to each crag, if there, were horrible.I have never been been so confused going to a new area, while using this book. Good luck trying to find the climbs, it's all backwards. ...

New River Rock
By far the most comprehensive and user friendly climbing guide for the NRG. This guide includes history,route length,and first ascent information. In addition to,being a great guide the history makes a good read. Keep in mind this book does not cover Summserville Lake,but then again it doesn't claim to. For that pick up Cater's guide or Mcray's sport climbing guide.

not so good
thompson's book has long winded verbal descriptions but the maps and layout make it extremely difficult to use. He also neglected to put in Summersville Lake, one of the best sport climbing areas in the east. SteveCater's New River Gorge Rock Climbers' Guidebook is definitely the book tobuy it is also less expensive and is easier to use and includesSummersville Lake. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - South Atlantic - West Virginia    6. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (10)

Easy to understand book giving the why and providing the how
I thoroughly enjoyed the blend of pure science and application to on rock performance.
An excellent resource
This book will not tell you how to hold onto a tiny crimpy hold with one finger while your feet hunt for somewhere to stand. It WILL tell you lots of things about how muscules work, what good training looks like, and what good climbing feels like. Move forward now or get off the rock
Imagine a pursuit that requires bloody fingers to excel at, a life or death commitment to succed in almost any areas of, and then take a look at this book. The cover alone conjures up teen romace rags, the horrendous pink and orange looks like some bizzare lesbian cookbook recipe collection. Don't let the cover deceive you about the content of this book. I've invested a lot of time and energy in texts that only added one more Everest story to myknowledge. NOT SO THIS BOOK. Concepts in this Performance Rock Climbing have been endorsed and used by most major climber you've read about. The back cover features an endorsement from a certain Mark Twight, and if you need any more information than that to take advantage of this book's massive potential for improvement, I suggest trading in your rack of gear for a bigger TV-you'll be more comfortable during your muscle decay, and that's one less person kicking down rocks on my head while answering a celphone halfway through a climb. Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountain Climbing    2. Mountaineering    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Rock climbing    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Training    8. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

useful
useful for the first visit in the valley, good topos, easy approaches, correct ratings . obviously far from complete: why don't add west face of cap and other V grades thet can go free?. interesting historical notes by steve roper on every route.

I spent money on this?!?
Terrible, terrible book. This is lazy, unstructured and devoid of any sort new information of old routes. It reads like a series of set pieces thrown together without any overall narrative structure - it's like the authors wanted something immediately to capitalize on and rushed this out. The occasional original thought is swamped by the general literary mediocracy and lack of focus.Very disappointing. And a real case of the Emperor's new clothes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Guidebooks    3. Mountaineering    4. Rock climbing    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Yosemite Valley    8. Yosemite Valley (Calif.)    9. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (9)

How It All Began
Steve Roper is meticulous.This is an excellent history, and I feel positive and secure that Mr. Roper's records are as accurate and precise as they can possibly be of that rowdy and rambunctious world.I enjoyed reading about the historical climbers and the more social rock climbers of the '30s. Those were the days when families came, climbed a little, picnicked a lot, and a good time was had by all. Enthralling and Exact
I was a Yosemite climber in the 1970's and met a number of the major characters (Frost, Chouinard, Robbins, Harding). Steve Roper has done an incredible job of capturing the ephemeral facts and essential spirit of the climbers and times.He is frank about their weaknesses: "We were thoughtless and immature"(pg 154) and "...we were puerile youths.We had been taught the correct values at home, yet we rebelled against everything," (pg 155-6), referring to the troubles they caused in the Vally.He is honest about his own failures, both in his own character and on climbs he could not do. He is enthusiastic about the successes of the pioneers and freely gives credit to those who deserve it. Steve not only gives you facts, he gives you feelings and insights.You can't get better history than this. The Golden Era!!!
This is probably the best account of the Golden Age of Yosemite climbing that has come off the presses. Very honest portrayal of the figures and players by someone who has there to see it all. Very moving, and also very humurous at times. Roper has truly captured the spirit of a long gone era for the younger generation to enjoy and look up to. Thanks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Mountaineering    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (11)

Amazing
I loved how suspenseful it is when they are trapped in the snow cave for a week. I would definetly recommend this book to anyone about the age of 12. It is kind of challenging.

READ THIS BOOK!
this was an awesome book. it was so suspensful i couldnt put it down it was like my fingers and eyes were glued to the book.i had a great time reading it.the people in this book went through alot of bad luck.im not going to describe it though for those of you review readers who havent read the book.this book was the complete oppisite of a waste of time and i highly recommend reading it because there is so many bad things happening like death, frostbite, and wind speeds i didnt even know were possible that its amazing anyone could have survived a adventure such as that.this was a good book i highly recommened it for anyone looking for a good time , or anyone who hasnt read a good book lately, or ,OH THE HELL WITH IT! I recommened this book to anyone, anywhere, anytime!

Excellent Book!
This book is incredible.You cannot put it down.A great gripping TRUE story! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. Mountaineering    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel   

Subjects:  1. Arizona    2. Guidebooks    3. Mountaineering    4. Rock climbing    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel - United States    8. United States - Mountain - Arizona    9. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)   

Reviews (1)

If you climb you need this book!
Matt Burbach (a.k.a. M@ at Urban Climber Magazine) continues to impress with this instructive and comprehensive book on gym climbing.The photos and descriptions of everything from technique to learning how to lead are really useful for someone like me who is beginning to climb hard routes more consistently.I don't climb outdoors very often, so the other books discussing climbing on "real" rock don't really give me the information I need to improve at my local rock gym.Burbach's book is different.It is specifically geared toward "urban climbers" like myself who climb in gyms and want to improve.I recommend this book to people wanting to maximize their indoor experience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (1)

THE book for trailwork
I build mountain bike trails, and although this book mostly talks about hiking trails, the information is good for any type of trail.Read more

Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Highway Engineering    5. Hiking    6. Maintenance and repair    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Trails    9. Travel    10. United States    11. Climbing & mountaineering    12. Management of land & natural resources   

Reviews (2)

Pure Domination
I've been wanting to ice climb for quite some time now, i got this book as a gift, and it is wonderful.a great no bull guide to getting started, from gear to techniques.if you want to get into ice climbing BUY THIS BOOK.

Everything you need toknow; clear, concise, easy to read
An excellent resource for ice climbing!Concise and clear, provides all the essential knowledge. Also provides further references for subjects notcovered.Great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountain Climbing    2. Mountaineering    3. Snow and ice climbing    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Winter Sports    7. Climbing & mountaineering    8. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (6)

Fast read
Another great John Long compilation!!Read while on a business trip & could hardly put it down, really saved me from the travel boredom.Any climber can relate to the drama & excitement!

Good reasons to not climb alone
This is an easy, quick read that will entertain if you like climbing stories.While I enjoyed reading this book as I have all of Long's climbing stories, I just can't see the thrill of tackling mountains alone.The element of danger is raised exponentially.Therefore, I didn't identify with the climbers and why they take this risk.It does detail these climbers and why so many feel the desire to climb alone in dangerous conditions. Personally, it just made me more comfortable on an indoor rock wall.Climbers will still enjoy the read however.

Damn Good Book
This Book was awesome.It kept me on the edge of my feet.John Long is a great climbing author and I haven't read a bad book from him yet.If you want to be on your feet and like to be excited, this is the one for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Essays    3. Hiking    4. Mountain Climbing    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineers    7. Special Interest - Adventure    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Sports - General    11. Biography: sport    12. Climbing & mountaineering    13. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering    14. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Cascade Range    2. Family recreation    3. Guidebooks    4. Hiking    5. Mountaineering    6. Northwest, Pacific    7. Special Interest - Family    8. Travel    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - Pacific - Washington    11. United States - West - Pacific (General)    12. Washington (State), Western   

Reviews (4)

Are you (ice) experienced?
Jeff Lowe's earlier book, the Ice Experience, was a companion text to Yvon Choinard's Climbing Ice, and those two formed the vast majority of the printed information on technical ice climbing for several decades. Now his new book eclipses everything else on the market for its scope, practicality, and good looks (the photos are one of the highlights of the book). All you need know about ice climbing and a little more
Jeff Lowe did a wonderfull job explaining the climbing techniques and reasons behind the technique. The knowledge in the book range from basic crampon technique to desparate overhanging dry tooling. All that is completed by excellent story of the frozen world

Excellent instruction from a world class climber
Jeff Lowe's Ice World is a must have for any ice climber.His in depth descriptions of classic techniques as well as insight into skills that helped him put up incredible mixed routes are all detailed in easy to read language.Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Mountaineering    3. Snow and ice climbing    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. United States    7. Winter Sports    8. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (1)

First Rate Guide Book
This is a great alpine guide book to some of the best climbs in Alaska. Historical background, detailed descriptions and clear photos help fuel your interest for each area. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (3)

A climber's review
I'd recommend this book to anyone who's even slightly addicted to climbing since it happens to be one of the best books around. Keyword of the last sentence is addicted. The book a short introduction to the mind of a very bold climber. For non-climbers... well it may be too complex and full of weird words. Must be interesting reading still, though. Very good
This is a collection of essays that appeared first in climbing journals published in England. The essays are written in a variety of styles, from straight narrative to a kind of stream of consciousness. One style written as if the writer is dictating his thoughts while climbing is used several times. At first it was interesting, but the later essays written in this style lose their novelty. Pritchard's essays are relatively short and cover a wide variety of subjects, from specific climbs, whole expeditions to people. Most of his stories about people were written after their death in one climbing accident or another. One essay about a climber with a career ending injury and how he deals with it is prophetic considering Pritchard's recent possible career ending climbing accident. Overall, it is easy to see why this book won the Boardman-Tasker award for climbing literature. The variety of the subjects and writing styles makes this a very good anthology of climbing essays that every climber should have in their library.

Inspiring,great book
Incredible book, I'm brusing up on aid climbing, I'm reading up on big walls, I'm feeling confident leading out on my pro.Well written, beatifuly written, great spirited, motivational.Extreme to the max.Oneof the best Christmas presents I'v ever gotten ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (17)

Tales of strength and determination
I could not put this book down. I knew nothing of alpine climbing to begin with, but became engrossed by the descriptions of the mountains that inspired the lives of the first five women who climbed K2. Myself, I am inspired by the strength of these women. One reviewer commented that the author seemed to have something against male climbers. I did not get this feeling, but rather felt that she was descrbing things as they were, with men often resenting and feeling threatened by these women's accomplishments. As other reviewers have said, these women were indeed complex. I was struck by the pattern of some of their deaths: continuing on when weather was bad for example, or underestimating their need for gear in their summit bids. But then, at 8,000+ meters in freezing temperatures and with little food to eat and scarce oxygen in the air, one can understand how decisions would be difficult! I suspect that these mistakes are not unique to women, but have claimed the lives of many a climber, male and female alike.
Engrossing, but marred by an undercurrent of resentment of the male ego.
As a man, I came looking for a story of risk and adventure from a woman's perspective. I too wanted to understand what drew these pioneers to the high and lonely places. The stories of the five women were gripping and well written, but I found the harsh and unrelenting criticism of the male ego tiring. The men and women of the climbing community share the same desire to conquer and to be tested. I had hoped for a story of shared desire, not of bitter divide between fraternity and sorority.

Wonderful!
Beautifully written accounts of the lives and climbs of the first 5 women to summit K2. Wanda Rutkewicz (Polish) and Chantal Mauduit (French) died on later climbs while Liliane Barrrard (French), and Julie Tullis and Alison Hargreaves (English) died there. The author knows the area and climbing well and researched each woman's life in depth so this book is exceptional both as biography and mountaineering literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. K2 (Mountain)    3. Mountaineering    4. Mountaineers    5. Pakistan    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Sports - General    10. Women    11. Women mountaineers    12. Women's Studies - General    13. China    14. Climbing & mountaineering    15. Social Science / Women's Studies    16. True stories of endurance & survival