Reviews (5)

Best Book Ever
This book is the most insightful book into becoming a great climber.The writers of this book are experienced climbers and have been in the climbing community for a long time(lots of connections, try Boone Speed and Tommy Caldwell)This book is a must read, and the DVD is a must see, especially about redpointing.BUY THIS BOOK!

Groundbreaking
I've read and been through just about eery other training book for rock climbing. This is the first book that reads like a textbook for school. It breaks things down into a science, increasing your understanding and vocabulary of how climbing works enabling you to cognitively apply practical skills immediately. Unlike other books, this one instructs the reader how to actually construct a training plan and what excercises to perform for his/her level based on what level they are trying to reach instead of simply stating the obvious, "to get better you need to train." This book is a must read for anyone looking to train for climbing and a bible for any serious climber looking to amp up their training regime.

A good guide to climbing movement
The Self-Coached Climber provides superb instruction on the subject of climbing movement, yet only limited coverage of the important subjects of strength and mental training (and no coverage of injuries, injury prevention, recovery, and nutrition). Read Self-Coached Climber as a complement to the more comprehensive Training For Climbing (which provides excellent coverage of the"missing" topics in SCC) and The Rock Warrior's Way. All three books are good reads that will help you climb better. ... Read more

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

Reviews (10)

Excellent training book
This book delivers what it says, "Training for Climbing". It is not a technique book but very specifically a guide to training most efficiently for climbing. If you want to climber harder, this book provides lots of good advice.

Thank you for this book!
I am an intermediate climber and have been searching for a good source of training techniques to better myself and accomplish more advanced climbs. "Training for Climbing" was suggested by the folks that work at my gym, so I ran out and bought it. This book is so full of information, that I'll be devouring it for weeks! Everything I've read so far is very fact based and straight forward. The parts on developing mental skills are especially interesting to me, as concentration is one of my biggest areas to work on.
Just what I was looking for...
I've been climbing for a few years and I wanted to begin a more serious, structured training program to help me break through to the higher grades. Training For Climbing is the book I was looking for, given its scientific look at improving technique, strength and the mind. While such a detailed, measured approach to training may not be for everyone, it has great appeal to me as a longtime athlete who engaged in formal training for other sports. Training For Climbing helped me understand the many unique aspects to, well, training for climbing, which I found to be much different than what I had been used to from my previous sports experience. Furthermore, I enjoyed seeing the many research references and footnotes, and more importantly I was pleased by the overall LACK of "do as so-and-so hot-shot climber does" or "train like I train." Training For Climbing helped me diagnose and design the best training program for me, and I sense that the book will remain a key resource for me for many years to come. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

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Reviews (236)

A must read for all Everest fans

The Climb
I like this book alot. I bought it to compare the different accounts of the players involved in the 1996 tragedy on Mt. Everest. I read everywhere that Jon Krakauer's account was the "definitive" one but was curious to see how others who he had mentioned in his version and in the case of Anatoli Boukreev, even vilified, saw the event and their roles in it.
Is there an editor in the house?
First of all, this book really can't stand on its own. It functions primarily as a corrective to Into Thin Air. And as that, it is a valuable document. It shows that there are two or more sides to every story, especially a story in which all the actors are hypoxic and delirious with exhaustion.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    3. Mountaineering    4. Mountaineering accidents    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Sports - General    8. Climbing & mountaineering    9. Himalayas   

Reviews (6)

From physiology to phenomenal climbing
This the authoratative text for the advanced climber who wishes to boost his/her skills to the maximum potential.
Can't Slow Down
If you're getting into climbing and getting into it fast, there are about five books to get, and this is one. Eric Horst gives a solid overview about how to speed progress and avoid typical mistakes such as overtraining, a common problem that kept me in 5.9 longer than I needed. The progression from grade to grade is more a mental one than a physical one, as my weeklong slothfest followed by a near full number jump in climbing ability will attest. Buy this, Performance Rock Climbing by Dale Goddard, the Heather Sagar book, and as much John Long as you can afford, and you will move more quickly up the ladder. Or, you can lift and jog yourself to death and spend your money on fingerboards, supplements, and other dubious methods, and hang out at your current level for a few more months or years like the other groundlings. Success requires effort; efficient effort requires knowledge. Get some.

would be the textbook for How to Climb Better 101
This book is a very thorough, overall guide to training for climbing.It is very helpful for discovering what you need to work on in order to maximize your climbing potential.I didn't realize how ignorant I was about training until I read this book. ... Read more

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

Reviews (6)

Great overall climbing guide
If you don't know where in JTree you would like to climb or if you plan on doing a little bit of all kinds of climbing, this is the book to have.It provides an overview for the whole area with great maps and photographs to easily locate all rocks (and there is a lot of them so the book is thick).Some of the maps and info are out of date and need to be replaced (the Hidden Valley campground/Intersection Rock map and information about showers).I also found myself constantly writing on the map page references for the different rocks.It may also be nice to include a guide on all major toprope, bouldering, and sport climbing sections, although these exist on the web.Overall, I had an amazing trip and knew where to go every day, I just wish I had more than 5 days to climb there.Ooooh, also the book doesn't tell you that you will have no finger tips left or that the ratings are really hard and you shouldn't use them :-)A 5.10c in JTree is apparently not a 5.10c anywhere else, but this is a one of a kind place!

This is the book.
There are others out there, but Vogel's Rock Climbing Joshua Tree is the definitive overall guide that both new and experienced climbers rely upon. However, for more detailed information on routes in specific areas of Joshua Tree (Lost Horse, Indian Cove, Hidden Valley, etc.), don't leave home without Alan Bartlett's excellent guides.
Missing details, but great guide
This is a very comprehensive guide to Joshua Tree for climbers. It is the book that we always take with us as the defintive reference. Generally, the information is accurate and the maps detailing which rock is which in various formations is quite good.Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Guidebooks    3. Joshua Tree National Park    4. Joshua Tree National Park (Cal    5. Joshua Tree National Park (Calif.)    6. Mountaineering    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Rock climbing    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Travel - United States    12. United States - Pacific - California    13. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (19)

The Will of the Fearless
Mark Twight and James Martin have assembled an excellent reference and an enjoyable read supported by wonderful photos. Mark is the man
Mark lives his life the way real men should be living - high ideals and hard toward himself.

The best and pure alpinism
Realy the core of alpinism. No bla,bla bussiness. Expirienced in person and transfered into the readers bloodstreem. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Psychological aspects    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Training    6. Alps    7. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (4)

An excellent reference for multlipitch climbers
This book is for the experienced climber who understands the importance of self rescue skills for multipitch trad climbing. This a must have for every climber!
I am an aspiring Big Wall climber. I would not be caught dead 2000 feet off the deck without the information contained in this book. Regardless of your goals as a climber, you owe it to yourself and your partner to learnand master the techniques contained in this book. BUY IT!

If you climb you should read this book!
The book covers all aspects of rescue of a fallen climber, from freeing oneself from a harness to ascending or decending the rope to finally hooking up and hauling the victim to safety. I've read numerous books onclimbing and if your looking fora book on self rescue, this is the one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Rock climbing    3. Safety measures    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Climbing & mountaineering    7. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

camping & wilderness survival
IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN LEARNING AND/OR INTEREST IN THE OUTDOORS. YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK.IT IS LIKE AN ENCYLOPEDIA FOR THE OUTDOORS, EXCEPT IT IS WRITTEN LIKE EVERY PAGE IS A FULL ON TOPIC SYNOPSIS.YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.
Most complete nature/survival book I've ever seen.
This is my first book review. I'm trully amazed by what all is contained in this fairly compact book, yet each page contains a massive amount of information. It is quite thick, over 1,000 pages,LOTS of really sharp color photos.Covers so many subjects in addition to survival and camping. It's as though it could be 10 different books in one. I'm really impressed by this book and feel it truly is one of the best books I've ever bought.I'm actually thinking of getting two of them... One to keep in the truck and one to read in my spare time at the house.. SO MUCH information is in this book, it's like a small nature encyclopedia..It covers all possible terrains, types of plants, animals, cloud formations, many maps showing insect distribution, etc.. climates, etc.. reptiles, most all of the usual survival/camping info.. but SO much more..how to survive practically any imagineable scenario. So many color photos.For nature-lovers and campers this is really a must-have book as well. I've bought several other survival books and this seems to contain just about all that is in the others..shelters,first aid, mental preparedness, kits, backbacks, fish preperation, game hunting, etc..Although, there are some survival books that are quite unique as well in their own right and may go into much more detail on say, shelter-building for instance, this book shows with pictures, quite easy-to-understand basic construction techniques, for emergency situations. No SINGLE book can have everything, but I must say, this book sure does come close to it!I don't think you will regret this purchase.Just one warning though, because there is so much information on each page, the print is quite small. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Hiking    3. Mountaineering    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (15)

A Masterpiece of English Literature
Ok, it's not a masterpiece of English literature.What is there to analyze here?This is like arguing the merits of Benny Hill.For 8 bucks, buy this book.It has a few practical tips about where and how to deficate in the woods (hence the title).Great.The introduction is a tears-in-your-eyes funny anecdote on that topic that is probably worth the price.Then, you have a conversation piece for your bookshelf that will be appreciated by almost everyone.And, the author goes to some length to argue that this title is NOT vulgar (the book includes a useful lexicon for the word that is also worth the price).And, you'll have something to think about the next time you take a hurried necessary behind a tree or abandon a diaper in the Wal-Mart parking lot!Enough analysis already.

Finally ... a great help for the novice woodsman
Few experiences do more to mar the outdoorsy afternoon or the 8 day backpack trek than stepping over a log and discovering your expensive waffle-stompers are filled with the leavings of another hiker.The problem is as old as mankind.At least, it's as old as mankind after he began noticing what was between his toes.
QUITE FUNNY AND VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING
I BOUGHT THIS AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT (WITH SIMILAR BOOKS OF "TOILET HUMOR") FOR MY 40 YEAR OLD BROTHER-IN-LAW. HOWEVER MY HUSBAND AND KIDS ENJOYED IT TOO MUCH TO GIVE THEM UP.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Defecation    2. General    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Health aspects    5. Mountaineering    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Outdoor Skills    9. Outdoor life    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Camping & woodcraft    12. Transport industries    13. Travel writing   

Reviews (1)

The PDR for wilderness injuries & related illnesses
Foregoing knowledge of the existance of this text was unkown, until it was needed in an emergent situation on site. At that time a stingray injury required our immediate attention. With no previous experience in this kind of injury, the book provided immediate no frills information on treatment, backup care and procedures.After this experience, I carefully examined the text at length and was amazed at the comprehensive nature of the topic that was covered.I would recommend this text to be present in allhealth care provider libraries and offices, as it is in mine. Dr. H.J. Willis D.O. Emergency & Trauma Physicia ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Emergency Medicine    2. Environmentally induced diseases    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Mountaineering injuries    6. Outdoor medical emergencies    7. Wildlife    8. First aid & paramedical services    9. Medical / Emergency Medicine   

Reviews (19)

Great book for all technical bike skills
This book covers everything in Mountain Biking from selecting a bike, to jumping doubles.The book covers all skills from the basic to the extreme, but it seems to concentrate more on skills needed for riding technical terrain.The techniques in the book are explained very well with photos and diagrams, and it is an entertaining read.Really the only thing lacking in this book is XC training stratagies.However this topic probably deserves a book to itself.

great tool for improving your riding
I'm lucky enough to live near some great off road trails - the Avalon area in Maryland. Problem is that I'm an old guy (the bike I had before the Cannondale Prophet I just bought is older than you!) (all right - I'm over 50) and I really like riding trails. So, now I've got a new bike that's a lot more capable than me, I want to get better. The trails I ride are twisty single track with lots of roots, rocks, stream crossings, occassional short downhills with berms on the turns... great stuff. Well, enough about me (it is all about me though isn't it?), but this book was a great help. First, as they say in the book "let the bike roll". When you're perched at the top of a gnarly section it's nice to be able to call up your mantra of "let the bike roll" as you head down into a gully full of rocks, roots, fallen branches etc. The book gives solid advice on skills to learn so that you get the most out of your bike (things like weighting and unweighting). It gives you insight into how to do things like manuals, hops, etc that most riders don't know how to do. (To learn you have to practice but this book really helps get you started). I've really enjoyed the book and read it and try stuff in it practically every day.

Best Step-by-Step I have read for mountain biking
The combination of experienced authors, supportive facts, and the fashion in which the material is presented makes this book the best way to learn about mountain bike skills.The format is what I like the most. There are clear frame by frame pictures of moves with concise descriptions to go with them.The authors also provide interesting scientific facts about cycling physics. The troubleshooting sections are also helpful.The chapters are all well organized and packed full of helpful and not so obvious information. Any rider can benefit from this book.The book is more than a list of tips (like most other books: outside foot down, look ahead, etc.) It is the best tool that I own for improving my skills next to my bikes. I am a seasoned racer and I am learning so much from this book. Buy it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All terrain cycling    2. Cycling    3. Cycling - General    4. Cycling - Mountain Biking    5. Mountain Climbing    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Training    9. Mountain / off-road cycling   

Reviews (4)

A good one
The Backpackers Handbook is more informative and easier to read than the other two books I bought recently (Hiking Light Handbook, and Everyday Wisdom).Save your time and read this one alone.

Best book of its kind i have seen
I got three backpacking type handbooks at a library and read all three this is by far the best one. It has the most in depth information and is enjoyable to read.

The title says it all...
This is, without doubt, the best book on backpacking I've read. Just the right balance between specific recommendations and general advice, objective information and personal opinion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Backpacking    2. Camping    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Hiking    5. Mountaineering    6. Outdoor Life    7. Outdoor Skills    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Sports & Recreation / Hiking    11. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Reviews (10)

Perfect Book
This book has all of the information that you wished people would have told you over the years.Well written, fun to read, and extremely useful for techincal information.

How to Rock Climb!
I'm a beginner at rock climbing and reading this book for instructional purposes. While it does a good job of explaining fundamentals I have found certain sections difficult to follow - often times different moves will be referecned before the section that explains them (sometimes with a referencing page, sometimes without). I also found it poorly edited in some spots - mis-refenced pages, paragraphs seemingly in wrong order (ie. pg 62 claims there is a "taping" illustration on pg 60, it is clearly on pg 63; the last and second to last paragraphs on page 63 seem to be flip flopped).

Undeniably classic, yet strangely flawed
This is undeniably one of the major "textbooks" on rock climbing, and contains a great deal of useful information. Yet it has some rather disturbing flaws. Firstly, even though I read the 1998 edition,outdated information from earlier editions had not been updated. At times Ifelt like I was reading a book describing rock climbing in some paralleluniverse: Long refers to brands and items of gear not currently inexistence (what's a Salewa Antz?) and some recommended techniques (tyinginto a trad anchor with the rope rather than with slings or a cordelette)are very rarely, in my experience, used. The text often makes referenceswhich will prove confusing for the beginner, and would benefit from abetter glossary. The 1998 edition also has some sections so full ofmisspellings that they appear to have been written by a quasi-literateperson. In summary, everything in this book is good information, but someof it is not entirely relevant to the way climbing is done today, and someof it is presented in an unclear manner. ... Read more

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

Reviews (21)

The Perfect Strike
As I read this, voraciously, I couldn't help but be reminded of "The Perfect Storm."Mr. Madgic's book works hard not only tell the story, but to give every kind of context: personal, scientific, geographic, etc.The result is that he meets what I suspect was one of his two goals: to give the careful reader as complete a picture of that day's tragedy as possible.He also meets what I assume was his second goal: he tells a damned good story.I get the impression that this was a labor of love, but, to my mind, Mr. Madgic has shown more than enough talent to join the likes of Simon Winchester or Erik Larsen.I hope he tackles another book.

Surprisingly engrossing
I am not a fan of the action-adventure/disaster story, and intially, the word "catastrophe" turned me away from this book.I have been pleasantly surprised.The author develops the characters well enough that we care about their travails.I am glad I already 'made it to the top' before I knew this much about lightning and thunderstorm peculiarities - scary stuff. I recommend this book to hikers and any outdoor enthusiasts.

The good news and bad news
I wondered how the author was going to fill up an entire book about an accident that happened, literally, as fast as lightning. Well, the good news and bad news is that he doesn't. The story, of a group of guys getting struck by lightning at the top of Half Dome in Yosimite National Park, takes up only the last few chapters. Normally I hate it when books are written like that, but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Most authors would waste a lot of space giving the full background to every major character, but this author shows us what the main characters are like, by telling exiting stories of things they did in their past. And not just random stories, but stories that relate to the final lightning accident and to how they will react to it. The book also, thankfully, lets us know what happens to them years down the road (the event happened in 1985 and the book was written in 2005) so we see how the accident really affected them. It's also nice that there are photos of the main characters, and of the site of the accident. Overall a pretty good book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography And Autobiography    2. California    3. General    4. Half Dome    5. Mountain Climbing    6. Mountaineering    7. Rock climbing accidents    8. Search and rescue operations    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Sports & Recreation / General   

Editorial Review

Before Everest, there was Annapurna. Maurice Herzog led an expedition of French climbers to the summit of this 26,000-foot Himalayan peak in 1950. At the time of the assault, it was the highest mountain ever climbed, a remarkable feat in itself made all the more remarkable by the fact that it had never previously been charted. Herzog and his team not only had to climb the darn thing, they had to find the route. As riveting as the tale of the ascent remains nearly half a century later, the story of the descent through virtually unsurvivable--think avalanche and frostbite, for starters--conditions is unforgettable. Herzog's masterful account, finally back in print, is a monument of courage and spirit, an epic adventure excitingly told. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Great story, flawed method.
Reading the other reviews of this book, I'm reminded of a quote from one of my favorite, although little known Sean Connery movies, where he plays an Arab pirate.At one point Connery says to his second in command: "It is good.""What is good?", replies the other man."It is good to know where we are going," answers Connery.Alas, Herzog and his men didn't know where they were going, and spent a month wandering around looking.It would have been good to send out an initial recon group to find the mountain before they started out.Or, to paraphrase an english adventurer, "to lose a pack animal is unfortunate; to lose an entire mountain seems downright careless."

An Amazing Story of Incredible Human Endurance
Wow! This is one of those real life adventure stories that has you wondering how much more the people can endure before they collapse and die. These guys climbed one of the world's most difficult mountains with old climbing technology. What they lacked in modern equipment, they made up for with strength and fitness. The more I read about mountaineering, the more I agree that it is 75% mental and 25% physical. Being in the best physical condition possible definitely gives you a better opportunity for success on high ground. If you liked this book, I encourage you to read my book "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection". Best wishes on your adventures in life!

Mountaineering Classic
A marvellous book. Remarkably written, griping, and inspiring. A must for all mountaineers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1919-    2. Annapurna    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. General    5. Herzog, Maurice,    6. Mountain Climbing    7. Mountaineering    8. Nepal    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Travel    11. Herzog, Maurice    12. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    13. Travel / Polar Regions   

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Pictorials    3. Skiing - General    4. South America    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (5)

Any Outdoor Leader needs to read it
I'm an Eagle Scout from troop 572 of Carolina Puerto Rico, and all the leadership skill that I learn during my best time of my life is in that book. Maybe Fewer Stars for Corporate Use
I purchased this book for analagous use in a large corporation. It contains many useful insights and guidelines for leadership. Unfortunately, the author's attempt to generalize the definition of the term "pucker factor" is not enough to overcome the term's original anatomical meaning, hence making it questionable for corporate use. This conclusion is based on interpretations of the term from employees I surveyed. A more neutral term like "stress factor" would make it a perfect metaphorical book for use in corporations.

Brilliant for Business and Outdoors
No wasted words or soapbox sermons here. I've been leading and following for years and found the concepts in this book to be direct and effective, and, if applied, sure to make a difference in all areas of yourlife--professionally and personally. Some of the concepts are so simple youwill wonder why you haven't already been utilizing them. A quick read and agood value. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Leadership    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Outdoor recreation    5. Recreation leadership    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Climbing & mountaineering    9. Personal Growth   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Football    2. Football - College    3. Football - General    4. Football coaches    5. History    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. United States    9. West Virginia Mountaineers (Football Team)    10. West Virginia University    11. Cultural Region/Southeast U.S.    12. Geographic Orientation/West Virginia    13. Nehlen, Don    14. Sports & Recreation / Football    15. Sports & Recreation/History   

Editorial Review

This updated edition of the mountaineering classic is an essential reference for novices and experts alike. Chapters are devoted to in-depth discussions of outdoors fundamentals; climbing techniques for rock, snow, and ice; safety procedures and emergency response; geology and weather; and appendices for climb ratings and supplementary reading, among other topics. Detailed sections on navigation, ropes, knots, and protection include drawings, diagrams, and maps. Enjoy the freedom of the hills to the fullest with this thorough guide. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

More than just climbing
A great reference book with almost everything you need to know about surving in the outdoors. Oh yeah, and a lot of neat information on climbing.

A "must" in mountaineering
Yes, this book can't be missing in anyone's personal library if you are serious when it comes about this kind of sport, it is like the "mountaneering bible", make sure you have more than one.

great
This book was a great find, alot of useful information and a great resource.This book is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Rock climbing    3. Snow and ice climbing    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (1)

Basic climbing Skills in a clear and accessible format
Craig Luebben's new book represents a huge leap forward in climbing skills manuals.Though many excellent skills manuals exist (including Luebben's past works and the vaunted but unweildy Freedom of the Hills which goes beyond rock climbing into aplinism and mountaineering) this manual really sepetrates itself with its patient explanations and particularly with its photo instructions with added graphics for clarity.Many books of this genre have struggled with the clarity involved with diagramming knots and sysytems and Craig obviously went to great lengths to rectify this issue.The book is organized well and is easy to follow. It is nice to have these smaller manuals which focus on aspecific discipline in the sport. As a climbing guide and instructor I am frequently asked to suggest learning manuals. This one will now be at the top of the list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Rock climbing    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation