Reviews (2)

Classic Climbs
This is probably my favorite guide to the Sierra and I drool just thinking about the opportunities Croft has opened up for anyone seeking a challenge. Mt tattered dog-eared copy sits right over my desk, so I can take it down and be reminded of all there is that is great.
Very useful addition to the Sierra Climber's library
Croft has such stature in the climbing world that by mere inclusion of a Sierra route in this book, he will define it as a classic for the next generation of climbers.We bought this book in an East Side climbing shop en route to the Sierras to bag classic climbs, and found it very useful.The topos aren't up to modern standards (e.g., "Supertopos"), but there is enough detail to get an experienced climber up most of these routes.The major contribution is to identify the classic routes of the range, something he is highly qualified to do.If you plan to do much technical climbing in the High Sierra, buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Skills    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering    5. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)    6. California    7. Campgrounds    8. Guidebooks    9. Hiking    10. Mountaineering    11. Rock climbing    12. Sierra Nevada Mountains (Calif    13. Travel    14. United States - West - Pacific   

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Emergency Medical Services    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Emergency Medicine    5. First Aid    6. First Aid (Internal Medicine)    7. First aid in illness and injury    8. Mountaineering injuries    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Reference - General    11. Safety    12. Sports    13. Sports & Recreation    14. Wilderness survival    15. Travel / General   

Reviews (1)

This Book Is Awesome!!!!!!!!
You have to have this book if you climb in the Bay. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Guidebooks    3. Mountaineering    4. Rock climbing    5. San Francisco    6. San Francisco (Calif.)    7. Travel    8. Travel - United States    9. United States - Pacific - California    10. United States - West - Pacific (General)    11. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Subjects:  1. Foraker, Mount, Region (Alaska)    2. Guidebooks    3. History    4. McKinley, Mount, Region (Alaska)    5. Mountaineering    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Alaska    9. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Mountaineering    4. Specific Groups - General   

Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Brain    3. General    4. Medical    5. Mountaineering    6. Nervous system    7. Neurology - General    8. Neuroscience    9. Rats    10. Reference    11. Science    12. Cellular biology    13. Mammals    14. Medical / Neuroscience    15. Neurosciences    16. Rats--Nervous system--Atlases   

Reviews (2)

the greatest rock climbing guide book ever
Hands down the best ever.Directions to the crag, witty and snide commentary, everything you need to make it to the cliff.Who needs to know which route is which?You only need to arrive.Also serves as a dependable guide to good free camping all over North America and as a cutting surface for chopping vegetables.

An unreal collage of North America's crags.
If you are looking for the one book that tells of all the climbing hot spots then look no further. This book gives most all the features of each crag including height, rock type, classic climbs and great directions. Nomore guess-work on just how good that mystery cliff might be thanks toTim's star ranking system. If your travel is ever dependent upon cliffsthen here this is your Bible. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

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Reviews (10)

Experienced WA hiker does not recommend this book..........
...and recommend in its stead : Hiking Washington's Geology, ISBN: 0898865484. Opinionated guide but great in all respects
I have read countless hiking books but never have I encountered a preface like this book. Authors Spring and Manning spend many pages going into a diatribe about how the Forest Service has ruined many Washington trails and how ATV's and encroachment has destroyed much of the pristine beauty of the state. I agree with their comments wholeheartedly, but wonder if such "strident" opinions (to some people) are really suitable in a hiking guide. For me, the political opinions were not a distraction, but I want to mention them in case you are expecting simply a typical guidebook with no ancillary commentary. Classic = Old
My criticism of this guide applies to all of the so-called "classic" hikes series. It is difficult for me to write, because Harvey Manning was once one of the best guidebook writers on the planet, and Ira Spring's photos are awesome.Read more

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Hiking    3. Mountaineering    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - Washington    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)    8. Washington (State)    9. North America    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Sports / Recreation / Outdoors    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Mountaineering    6. Rock climbing    7. Sports & Recreation - General    8. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous   

Reviews (10)

A great book...

Wonderful!
Reading this book inspired my boyfriend and I to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (which we completed in October, 2005). Angela does such a fantastic job of telling her story. It's entertaining, funny, and a great read.
A walk in the ....West
Nice twist in that we get the view fromboth the stereotypical speedy, strong guy, and his weaker, inexperienced girlfriend.They did a great job of making you feel the physical and emotional challenges as they hiked from the Mexican border through the Califonia desert and through the Sierras.I give this couple credit for making it through this arduous portion of the PCT.
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Subjects:  1. Ballard, Angela    2. Ballard, Duffy    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Hiking    6. Mountaineering    7. Pacific Crest Trail    8. Sports - General    9. Travel    10. Travel & holiday guides    11. Travel writing    12. USA    13. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Reviews (3)

Mountaineering Book for more than just Mountaineers
I bought this book to plan a week-long backpacking trip. It is very similar in concept to Secor's "High Sierra" guide for CA's Sierra Nevada: Adequate description of the trails and off-trail passes, and comprehensive information for climbers on about everything climbable. I am not a technical climber and cannot judge the book's usefulness as a real "climbing guide", but I like to take off-trail excursions, shortcuts, and scrambles. Together with the "Earthwalk" topos (which are excellent) this book was just the right thing for planning a backpacking trip with "side adventures". If you stay strictly on the trail, you might find a pure trail guide more useful, as trail descriptions only make up 10 or 20% of the text. Off-trail travel turned out to be easy in the Wind Rivers, though. Awesome guide for the experienced mountaineer
This book outlines hundreds of different routes up all of the Wind's well-known peaks (as well as several not-so-well-know ones). He did a phenomenal job amassing all of this information. There is enough here for a short lifetime of awesome mountain trekking. A must for the Wind River hiker and mountaineer
Joe Kelsey has taken the old trail book of Finis Mitchell's and turned it into a Trail and Mountain Guide that leads you to every nook and crany, you would want to go. Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Mountaineering    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Mountain - Wyoming    7. Climbing & mountaineering    8. North America    9. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering    10. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Reviews (1)

Informative and entertaining even for non-climbers
I'm not much of a mountain climber at all...Mount Rainier is one of the very few mountains I've ever stepped foot on.Mike's book was still highly entertaining to read for stories or general infactuation with climbing.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Mountaineering    3. Rainier, Mount    4. Rainier, Mount (Wash.)    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. United States - Pacific - Washington    8. United States - West - Pacific (General)    9. Washington (State)   

Reviews (8)

Classic
This is the classic guide book for the Tetons.Many pictures and topos are provided to help route finding, however most topos are for the more difficult routes.The text is very descriptive.The book is heavy so be prepared to make photo copies before your climb.

awesome!!!
exactly what I was looking for.All the detail I needed and more. Please send my thanks to the authors for the great beta.

A "must read" for teton travelers...
If you are looking for a comprehensive, detailed, easy to understand reference guide to the history, approaches and routes of the peaks of the Grand Tetons...look no further. Complete with Topos, black and white Arial photographs, and hand drawn route diagrams, this guide is a "must have" in any mountaineer's quiver of guide books. The book opens with a history of the Grand Teton Range and introduces readers to the men and women who explored and developed many of the modern routes enjoyed by all today; particularly the "bold" first accents of the early Teton pioneers Paul Petzoldt and Glenn Exum. The meat of the book can be found in the remaining pages covering everything from, recommended equipment, mountain safety, to detailed accounts of the climbs and approaches on all the jagged peaks of the Teton Range.
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Subjects:  1. Grand Teton National Park    2. Grand Teton National Park (Wyo    3. Guidebooks    4. Mountaineering    5. Outdoor Life    6. Parks & Campgrounds    7. Rock climbing    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Teton Range (Wyo. and Idaho)    10. Travel    11. Travel - United States    12. Travel Guides - U.S.    13. United States - West - Mountain (General)    14. Wyoming    15. Climbing & mountaineering    16. USA   

Reviews (1)

Want a detailed description of a snow-banner?the nut-pine?
Or numerous other natural phenomena?Come browse Muir's collection of books.Yes,browse the 1,030 pages which comprise his writings.This book is excellent for the student of nature because his descriptive writing takes you to the high Sierra, the redwood forests, the 1,000 mile trek through Florida to the Gulf of Mexico.You are there and you want to be THERE!While much of the description was written over 100 years ago, the magnificence of a Sequoia, the humidity of a Florida swamp and the curiosity of a Douglas squirrel is still REAL today.A true travelogue for nature lovers and mountainmen wannabes alike ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. California    4. Natural History    5. Naturalists, Gardeners, Environmentalists    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Reference    9. Sierra Nevada Mountains    10. Wildlife    11. Yosemite National Park    12. Climbing & mountaineering   

Editorial Review

Dick Bass was a successful entrepreneur. Frank Wells was a Hollywood studio president. Together they set out to accomplish what no one else ever had: climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. The fact that both men had so little climbing experience turned out to be their greatest strength: since they had no idea what they were in for, they never considered their task out of reach. Read more

Reviews (34)

Less Mountains, More Sap
This book is definitely not one to purchase if you are looking for detailed accounts of climbing these mountains.We read far more about the planning and personal lives of these men; neither of whom is interesting enough to command this attention. The dialogue between the two men is incredibly canned and sappy and Ridgeway tries in vain to capture the true feelings resulting from these ascents. You would probably be better off reading individual guides if you want to get a feel for these climbs. There are definitely better books on the subject.

What Money Can Buy
This book, in the main, is nothing more than hubris in print. Wells and Bass typify the attitude of today's wealthy elitists: the belief that because they have lots of money, they are somehow ennobled and entitled to everything the world has, including the world's highest mountain peaks.
Poorly written
This book reminds me of athlete biographies written for kids.All the characters are presented as totally one-dimensional cliches-- business leaders who refuse to lose, tough-acting butchy women with hearts of gold-- all your favorites are here! You're forced to read page after page of detailed conversations that are clearly fictionalized.The author bends over backwards in an effort to elevate Bass and Wells to superhero status.All of this can get very annoying!The bottom line, as I understand it, is that Bass and Wells did something that they should be very proud of.By treating their adventure as a world-class mountaineering accomplishment (which it clearly was not) the author actually detracts from the story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. General    3. Mountaineering    4. Mountaineers    5. Nature    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. United States    9. Wells, Frank    10. Modern fiction    11. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (3)

Lots of Great Hikes
Zdon does a great job of listing hikes in the southern Nevada and California desert. The descriptions and directions he gives are highly accurate. I've done a few dozen of the hikes listed in the book (some before and some since seeing the book) and can attest that the book is highly reliable. One feature that Zdon works into his hike descriptions which I like a lot is a description of the plants in the area. For instance, in describing the Kingston Range (an area I have not yet got to explore) he tells of a yucca-like plant called the nolina and of a "relict stand of white firs" on this desert peak. Details like this make me want to get out and explore that area! (He also mentions that the hiker should keep a watch out for ticks while climbing Kingston Peak, but that's important advice too!) Another interesting area Zdon covers is the Sheep Mountains which are northeast of Las Vegas. Zdon goes beyond the typical Joshua Tree and Death Valley hikes that are covered in dozens of books and includes the lesser hiked areas in the deserts of southern Nevada and California.

A great resource
Although I'm waiting try the new hikes detailed in this book (I'll wait till summer passes, thanks), I have found it to be a great read on its own merits. The physical descriptions of the areas covered are detailed and evocative without being flowery; the driving and trail directions are as exact as they can be given the remoteness of some of these areas. Mr. Zdon knows these places inside and out, and he goes well beyond the obvious choices into some wild and relatively unexplored terrain. This book introduced me to some new places I want to experience, and made me realize I don't know my "familiar" spots as well as I thought. The volume is also very handsomely illustrated and produced.

Hiking California & Southern Nevada desert summits
Andy Zdon has done a very thorough job researching the approaches and hiking/climbing routes in this guide book.I especially liked the fact that he warns the reader against taking passenger cars up roads which he feels require 4WD capability.The inclusion of general area maps and actual photographs make the book even more useful.Descriptions are great but someone said "a picture is worth a thousand words". Included in the descriptions are such useful topics as the anticipated round trip elevation gain and hiking distance.In some instances Andy has added his personal comments regarding safety issue or things like "don't underestimate the difficulty of this hike".The personal touch gives the guide book user more of a "hands on" feel to the overall hike. I recommend Desert Summits to all of those folks who are planning to get out and hike/climb the areas described in the book.Hey, here's another "list" to get you out of the house this winter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Guidebooks    3. Hiking    4. Mountaineering    5. Nevada    6. Travel    7. Travel - United States    8. United States - Pacific - California    9. United States - Pacific - Nevada    10. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Editorial Review

In 1978 Jim Wickwire became the first American to top 28,250-foot K2, the second highest peak after Mt. Everest (for some, his solo bivouac near the summit the same night is an even greater feat). But it is a previous expedition to K2 three years earlier--and the author's unflinching assessment of that trip--which sets the tone for the book. "K2, the mountain that would one day represent my greatest success," he writes, "was in 1975 the scene of my greatest failure. It was a failure not because someone died or suffered a serious injury, but because my obsession to reach the summit helped doom our expedition to disappointment, discord, and, for a time, disgrace." Wickwire's memoir of a climbing life is riveting when he sticks to the mountains--including attempts on Everest, Denali, and Aconcagua--and particularly fascinating for its candid look at the internal machinations of big-time climbing expeditions: the planning, logistics, and training as well as the egos and rivalries that can derail an expedition. The lugubrious details are also here. More than one climbing partner doesn't escape from a crevasse, but it is a price exacted by the mountains, and Wickwire treats both his lost friends and the terrain with due respect. ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Great Successes and FAILURES in Mountaineering
All too often we read about the awesome success stories of mountaineers. I like how Jim shares his successes and failures on the world's highest mountains. Although Jim's adventures are on a grander scale than my own (see Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection), we both go out of our way to share the "failures." When facing the extreme forces of nature, you can't always reach the summit. There are many times you must choose between attaining your goal, or surviving. Jim had the brains to choose life when faced with many decisions that could have cost him his life. I was pleased to read that we both regard Reinhold Messner as the greatest mountaineer of all! I also enjoyed hearing about Jim's struggles to balance his climbing desires against his family's needs. There is no doubt his family suffered while he was out fulfilling his mountaineering desires. On one hand, he had to climb while he had his health and youth. On the other hand, he lost invaluable time with his family that is forever lost. Even though I've fantasized about devoting years to climbing like Jim did, I realize that you have obligations once you decide to become a husband and a father. My family comes before my "selfish" desires of climbing.

He Can't Explain
This is a great book to read if you want to learn more about Jim Wickwire and some of the mountaineering greats of the modern era.If you want a well-written book that makes you feel as though you're climbing a lonely peak in bitter cold yourself, read Krakauer's "Into Thin Air."For all the time Wickwire has spent in amazing and beautiful surroundings, he seems largely unable to describe them.Wickwire's story telling always seems focused on the action and never on the scenery.Half the mountaineering terms he tosses around are only explained in the glossary you find in the back of the book.
What every climber should face.. why am I here?
Ok, I was a climber, sort of, well I climbed some of the easy stuff near Seattle. And I realized that in order to keep the thrill of climbing up, as one gets better, you have to keep increasing the danger level. Hence the risk of injury and death keeps increasing until you decide you've had enough via an injury or your life's priorities change and your ice axe becomes a gardening tool.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Lawyers    6. Mountain Climbing    7. Mountaineering    8. Mountaineers    9. Sports - General    10. United States    11. Biography & Autobiography / General    12. Modern fiction    13. Wickwire, Jim   

Reviews (1)

Full beta for the Northwest!
Fred Becky has been know in producing the most comprehensivemountaineering guide books for the Northwest. This particular book covers all peaks from the Columbia River (south) toStevens Pass (north) and from Yakima (east) to Seattle (west).Withinthis area, routes for over three hundred peaks are described by Becky.This Becky guide also has an excellent introduction that includesCascade Weather, Special Dangers, Geographic Aspects, and Winter Traveland Climbing to name a few.You will be given enough technical andgrade information to fully understand exactly what type situation youare getting into.Please note that although easy peaks are listed, this is not a beginners "how to" guideRead more

Subjects:  1. Cascade Range    2. General    3. Guidebooks    4. Mountaineering    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Washington (State)    8. Climbing   

Reviews (3)

From Everest to Enlightenment
The book shares many human lessons learned from achieving one of the greatest creations on earth, climbing Mt. Everest.The book talks about challenges, goals, facing adversity, and humanity. I highly recommend the book, of such great adventure.

Goodbook - good insights - very honest
Alan Hobson realy shows himsef in this book, it's a rare thing to read a book about an Everest attempt with that degree of honesty about the up's and down's of the entire climbing and also about the impact of an Everest attempt on the writer's private life.Good tips about the climbing of Everest, some good insights also about the entire process(fundraising, logistics, etc...) , the recognition of the importance of the Sherpas is also a highligth of the book . Inspiring and Thought Provoking
In a very honest and human way, Hobson brings the reader into both thephsical challenges of Everest and the even tougher challenges of being ahuman.I found the book helped me to get things refocused on what is trulyimportant to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Personal Growth - Success    3. Self-Help    4. 1958-    5. Biography    6. Canada    7. Everest, Mount (China and Nepa    8. Hobson, Alan,    9. Mountaineers    10. Psychological aspects   

Reviews (19)

Awesome story...flawed presentation
I still recommend this book highly. The story of these explorers is simply amazing. As someone who is very very claustrophobic (my worst fear is being stuck in some confined space), I have to be an "armchair" explorer, and this book makes you confront these fears. In the end it's very rewarding.
The willys!
I'm a scuba diver.I have also done a lot of spelunking in my late teens and early 20's.I never really considered combining the 2.It just didn't cross my mind.
I Really Wanted to Like This Book...
I really wanted to like this book but I found myself struggling to finish it. No doubt, the experience itself was immeasurably exciting / interesting, but the book was, well, kind of boring. Read more

Subjects:  1. (William C.)    2. Adventurers & Explorers    3. Am Ende, Barbara Anne    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Caves    6. Huautla Cave (Mexico)    7. Mountaineering    8. Mountains    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Sports    11. Sports & Recreation    12. Stone, W. C    13. Stone, W. C.    14. Caving & potholing    15. Geographical discovery & exploration    16. Mexico    17. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering    18. Travel writing    19. Caving    20. Spelunking    21. Speleology