A Mountain-high Success
936069
Kathy Steffen's books just keep getting better and better.  I can't wait to see what she writes next!  In "Jasper Mountain," a western romance with a bit of gypsy magic woven throughout, Steffen has created a suspensful plot, a strong sense of place, evidence of deep research into 19th century mining techniques and characters who rise off the page with colorful personalities that enrage and/or captivate.  It's a very visual book, due to the inclusion of vibrant detail.  And her female characters possess unusual strength.  When the gypsy, Milena, tells her lover "I do not cook," you'll recognize a woman worth cheering for!
486321
I came across this series while I was perusing the Amazon book section for something new and interesting. Boy did I hit the jackpot!

This four-part series is a fantastic story. It is different from anything else I've ever read before. This first book, The Man in the Mountain, really hooks you in. The characters are deep, and very real (well, the ones who you are supposed to be sure about anyway). I felt myself caring for the main character and the other major character right from the start. The "surprise" that the two men find on the mountain is done so well that I found myself thinking about it when I was away from the book. The visualization is also well done. The author paints an amazing picture of life on the mountain.

To the point that the reviewer before me made (I'm not sure how you can provide a review on anything after only two pages), yes the language can be vulgar at times. However, it was all within the appropriate context. The dialog adds a realness to the story. If you are a person offended by vulgar language, then I recommend staying away from this book. The subject matter alone requires you to have an open mind and a sturdy constitution. Just keep in mind that it's a fiction novel. It can be hard to do at times because of how real the characters are. However, keeping that in mind will help keep those with a strong faith from losing their cool. I think it's just supposed to be a "what if this happened" kind of story. I don't think the author is saying this will happen, so stay calm.

Final point: I can't believe how affordable the books in this series are on the Kindle. Definitely worth the money.
462886
When most of the accomplishments in mountaineering are so summit oriented,  alloyed with sponsorship and even reality TV,  how can you not be pleased to read the account of someone whose accompishments are purity of the opposite?  The value of the climb, the route, and the unique experience of successful climbing partnership are lost to all except the climber.  Steve House brings this all back to its proper value and vividly in his own words.  This book is an act of Alpine art in itself.  No Sherpa support, no supplemental oxygen, only minimal equipment,  and nothing left on the mountain!
2523485
Yosemite is probably the most visited of the major national parks. The park has two parts, the valley floor and the fifty or so mile road through the high country.

Most people (I've read 95%) never leave the valley. The valley is indeed beautiful - wild animals, water falls, and more. But the high country is really special. <BR><BR>Half dome for instance is a giant smooth rounded pebble that from one side looks like something that you'd find in a creek bed, except that it's giant size. But then it's cut in two, with the cut away half simply gone. The result is one of the most spectacular mountains in the world.

Here in this book, is Yosemite. It's pictured from a rock climbers standpoint. And from that standpoint it shows places that I don't want to even think about going. But the views you get. You simply can't imagine. The photographer is a world class climber in his own right. Then he combines this with a camera that he obviously knows how to use.

There are a lot of things here (nearly every picture in fact) that I'm not going to see in real life. I'm glad that this book exists.
2077472
It was hard to decide whether to give this book four stars or five.  The book isn't anywhere near to being a complete history of the conquest of the alps (con), but what is here is extremely well-written and interesting stuff which I could barely put down (pro) even though it's a pretty hefty 360 pages in all.
The first half of the book (176 pgs) is devoted to Mount Blanc, starting in prehistory, working up to its first ascent in 1786, and then continuing on up til the mid-nineteenth century.  More than just the climbs themselves enters into the story.  Fleming is as much concerned with the philosophical and cultural meaning of the exploits as with the exploits themselves.  So he tries to give us a feel for their context in the wider scheme of things and what the people were like who were doing these things.  The amount and variety of material which Fleming has researched and brought into the mix is what makes the reading so fascinating.  There's everything from what the mountain villages were like to the scientific debate over why glaciers move.
Most of the second half of the book concerns itself with the eventual first ascent of the Matterhorn (1865) and the events surrounding it in the decade before.  If Mount Blanc was all about ice, the Matterhorn is obviously all about rock.  The author's obviously British perspective weighs heavily in here, which is where we get the most info on first ascents other than the two principals -- esp. if they were done by Whymper as warm-ups for the big prize.
Only the last twenty pages or so is devoted to the "modern" (post-Mummery) era, and the concentration so far as the detail is concerned is on the Eiger North Face.
So even if the coverage is much more limited than I would have preferred, Fleming is such an accomplished story-teller that I could recommend this to climbers and non-mountaineers alike.
4959870
"Up: A Mother and Daughter's Peakbagging Adventure" by Patricia Ellis Herr is a wonderful read about a mother believing a young girl with too much energy might make a good mountain trekker. And so they set out to climb as many of them as they can.

As a hiker, I can attest to the exhilaration a person feels as the come to the top of one mountain and then another. And then another. And so on. If you've got a spunky little girl, why not gear her up and head to the trails?

You never know what can happen on a trail, who you'll encounter, what the weather will be as it changes in a snap at high elevations, what kinds of animals you'll cross path with, what you'll do in an emergency, etc. For myself, hiking trails are spiritual journeys.

You learn a lot about yourself while hiking on the trail as well as those who hike along with you. I can't think of a stronger mother-daughter bond than the two, or three, hiking together and taking in all the wonders along the way. I loved learning about the good, the bad, and the scary. Reading about a mother teaching empowerment to her daughters through nature.

Each mountain they attempted had me filled with wonder, excitement there was another peak to discover, and a bit of jealousy.

Very enjoyable read.
947223
This is a well researched and thoughtful story of adventure and love set in the venue of the Himalayas.  The book was a free copy in exchange for my honest review.  I was initially skeptical, however, being a sucker for books concerning Mt. Everest and climbing, I decided to give it a go.  While Im not a big fan of fiction, I found myself drawn into the story.  Theres plenty of drama and lots of crazy characters to keep the readers attention.  I enjoyed the struggle and resolution between Catholicism and Buddhism that the players endured; in which the writer seemed to have first-hand experience.  The basic story-line was mildly predictable and some adult content may deter a few readers.  I found though, that as other pieces of the story unfolded, I was able to enjoy the climbing sequences and was eager to get to the next chapter. The author obviously did his homework, describing the landscape and the peoples of this magnificent region perfectly.  Whatever your tastes in reading may be, its hard to go wrong with any story set in such a dramatic backdrop.  I look forward to reading other works by Mr. Bagliere.
4915379
As an avid consumer of hundreds of mountaineering books, I look for two things to keep me happy. First, I appreciate authors who give great descriptions with memorable quotes. Secondly, I thrive on authors who tell me the details of what life is like up high, and how it feels. When Carol Masheter tells of ten breaths-one step and everyone's wracking cough and other small facts,  I am magically taken from my couch back to 20,000+ feet where I dream to be again. "No Magic Helicopter"  is one that I highly recommend. Please get it.
266639
This book languished on my shelf for over a year until I'd had my fill of fiction for a while and turned to Smoke's book as a possible literary escape into the mountains. Ten pages in, I was hooked and the more of it that I read the more I wanted to know. Mr. Blanchard's tales of old-school climbing and mountaineering on Mt. Hood were enthralling. The book goes on to detail his walks, climbs and bicycle rides in the Sierra's, Alaska, India, Japan, and Nepal - among other places. It details his friendship with uber-mountaineer, Norman Clyde and his wanderings with so many notable mountaineers and climbers of the day. His writing style was humble, yet often very amusing, like it seems he himself was. His tale isn't told with the usual balls-out - `We almost freaking died!' inflection that seems to be the trap of many of today's travel/adventure writers. Instead of leaving me breathless, Walking Up and Down in this World left me with a smirking smile and a want to take a week off from work, strap on my crampons, and head up into the winter clouds and snows of the high Sierras. The book is a good read and I highly recommend it to anyone who climbs in the California Sierras, boulders in the Buttermilks, or just want to read about an extraordinary mountaineer and trekker.
4739714
For Billy, life on a Kansas Prairie has only offered an unchanging landscape of flat prairie. His favorite book shows snow-capped mountains, forests, waterfalls. One day an idea comes to him: hell build a mountain like the ones in his beloved book. It will bring all the wildlife in those pictures: bears, deer, elk, beavers. At first, Billy enlists the help of his friends, but the going is slow, and they give up after theyve built a forty-foot hill.

But Billy is determined. He contacts a family friend who is also a reporter. The reporter writes an article about Billys dream. The story makes national news. The news reaches an old man who remembers his early dreams. He, too has a determined spirit. He decides to work with Billy. And when young and old work together with determinationwell, miracles can happen.

The author takes time with the miracles that unfold in this book. Young readers will develop an understanding of ecology and wildlife while seeing, too, the result of collective effort and commitment. None of this is didactic or preachy. Its easy to get involved in Billys plans and root for them, and its interesting to wait for what comes next.

Herb Leonards illustrations have the same, comfortable feel that drives the story. Kansas prairies, mountain meadows, snow caps and streams, Billys hopeful face as he thinks of his mountainall these have a glow to them that make a reader feel they are in each scene.
3550560
Ming Lo and his wife live next to a mountain.  The mountain constantly drops rocks on their house; clouds form at the peak and rain falls on their house (through the holes the rocks have already made) and it blocks the sun.  Eventually, they have had enough!!
Ming Lo's wife sends him off to the village wise man that first tells them to run at the mountain with a large pole-this will knock the mountain far away.  Of course, it doesn't work, so Ming Lo returns to the wise man many times to ask his advice.  Each suggestion grows more and more silly until the last one that actually works!!
Mr. Label is most well known for his Frog and Toad books.  The illustration style is similar with "Ming Lo", sharing similar muted colors but with softer outlines.  The pictures highlight the foolishness of Ming Lo and his wife as they bang pots and pans at the mountain to scare it away or bring food to the summit to appease the mountain god.  The wise man is an amusing character, sitting under a small pagoda in purple robes smoking a pipe (he produces more and more smoke each time that Ming Lo comes to ask him questions, to the point that he can barely be seen).
The story is easy to read and fun without being ridiculous.  It's an excellent book for beginning readers and will keep children interested as they read on to find out what Ming Lo and his wife will be up to next!  Highly recommended.
4266101
Above All Things is a fictionalized account of George Mallory's third and final attempt to summit Everest.  By her own admission, Tanis Rideout conflated or invented historical events to heighten novelistic tension.  She invents her own scenario of what happened to Mallory and his climbing partner Sandy Irvine on their final, fateful ascent, but doesn't weigh in on the enduring controversy about whether Mallory reached the summit before he died.

This is equally the story of Mallory's wife, Ruth, left behind in Cambridge with three small children while George spends years away in Himalayas seeking glory.  In alternating chapters, we follow George making his way up the mountain and Ruth through a single Mrs. Dalloway type of day, as she shops, frets, tries to stay brave and self-contained while seething with resentment and trepidation as she and the rest of Britain await word on the fate of her husband and the third Himalayan Expedition. The attempt on Everest was followed breathlessly by a British public eager to see physical suffering turned into noble achievement, a contrast to all the senseless suffering endured in the trenches during World War One.

The novel is well-written and well-paced, particularly in the mountaineering sections, where Rideout makes us feel the agony of exertion in thin air, as well as the politics and personal conflicts among the mountaineering team.  Ruth's chapters aren't as suspenseful, but she is a smart, lusty woman with a lot on her mind; the force and grit of her thoughts give her depth.

Even though his corpse was finally discovered on Everest in 1999, Mallory's legend continues to enthrall new generations. An excellent new non-fiction account, Into Great Silence, by Wade Davis, is worth reading.  The Ruth chapters also sent me back to Virginia Wolfe, who pioneered this sort of deep dive into the stream of consciousness.
4903938
Reach your Mountaintop takes you on a journey where you meet people, all of whom have lessons that we can use to reach our own pinnacle of success. Along the road the author juxtaposes his own life into the scenarios, telling us what he has learned on his own path to the Mountaintop. Along the way we are given the opportunity to learn many lessons, but the author is careful to point out that we must all find our own way and there is no one way or the right way. The book flows well, giving us opportunities to learn in a manner that is not overwhelming and lets us know that it is okay to make mistakes and fail. The important thing is to keep going, learn from our failures, and we will eventually find our own true path.  A wonderful read that hits upon every facet of living a successful life in a manner that challenges us and at the same time allows us to be gentle with ourselves.
4696860
It is clear from the beginning of this book that trouble was looming on the horizon for these intrepid, but somewhat reckless, climbers. The loss early on of one of their comrades to a fall into a crevasse was predictable. How they could think of walking unroped, on a glacier that they knew was ridden with crevasses, is almost unbelievable. This was due, no doubt, to youthful inexperience and a lack of leadership necessary to set the parameters of what would be acceptable in terms of safety. These factors combined were to cost them dearly. It was not until near the end of their forty two day stay on the mountain, that they coalesced into a team.

Notwithstanding the sheer recklessness of their initial, bumbling efforts at a winter ascent of Mt. McKinley, the fact remains that they did achieve the first such summit, no mean feat any time of year, but almost inconceivable in the dead of winter. Coming off the summit, their thermometer recorded the temperature at a quite bone chilling minus fifty eight degrees.

Caught in a whiteout on their descent, however, the three summiteers were forced to dig a snow cave, where they were to spend endless days, in weather which saw temperatures plummet to an almost mind boggling minus one hundred and forty eight degrees with the wind chill factor, hence the name of the book. That they could survive this, is a testament to their fortitude.

In their snow cave, it was a relatively toasty minus thirty five below. That snow cave was the only thing that stood between them and certain death. With virtually no food, frost bitten, and suffering from disorientation due to the altitude, they waited out the storm and lived to tell the tale.

This gripping chronicle, of the forty two days they spent on the highest and coldest mountain in North America, is a classic in mountaineering literature and one of the best books on McKinley climbs. Those who love this genre will certainly enjoy this book.
1176558
If I've learned one thing from my ongoing and mostly disappointing quest for good adventure documentaries and literature, it's that maps and distances and images usually tell stories better than we do.  In the face of incredible beauty and incredible hardship, our words fall flat and collapse into painful habits.  But Jill's don't.  They bring to life what alone stands as a fantastic journey.  It's hard to imagine pushing oneself to one's mental and physical limit every day for three or maybe even four weeks.  It's hard to imagine being able to do this if one were in a perfect state of mental and physical readiness leading up to the race.  But I can't imagine what it takes to pull this kind of effort out of shambles and devastation.  I loved this story for the exhausted, snowy night-time slogs, for the quiet moments of mountain exaltation, for the confusing relationships, and even more for the revelation that comes from it all: that this race was not something to finish before starting anew, but rather that the race itself was a new beginning - of something brave and strong.  So here's to hoping that a third one's on its way!
2244328
The story of Aron Ralston has been met with mixed reactions ever since it hit the headlines in the early 2000s. His memoir of the incident allows one to hear his side of the story; and at the very least bear witness to a story of triumph over seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The book does drag at some points, especially the frequent flashbacks of previous outings. However, the chapters focusing on Ralston in the desert and on the rescue effort are thrilling. Despite the filler (and the Phish fanboy-isms), the book is a very rewarding read. Ultimately, Ralstons tale of isolation in the Utah backcountry is both captivating and inspiring.
4286587
Two young brave mountain climbers push the envelope to attempt to become the first to scale the north face. One does not have to be a mountain climber to appreciate the importance seemingly small decisions have on the results of our efforts. Be prepared for surprises. I could have done without the love interest but the climb itself is intriging enough to carry this docu-drama.