Climbing Books

A "damned" valuable book by a "damned" valuable woman! Truly an inspiration to anyone who has ever had to climb their own "mountain"

This is a very moving and inspirational book. Buy this book and the next time you are feeling weighted down by the cares of the world or you don't feel like taking another step - pick up and read "I Climbed a Mountain in Montana" and before you know it you will be looking at the world from a whole new perspective.

A very good book about mountaineering techniques in alfabetical order, many pictures, explains everything, glossy paper, hardcover.

This must be the best mountain instructional book I've ever read. It is in an A-Z list type format, which makes finding the topics easy. It covers all sorts of things, from fixed ropes and crevasse rescue to emergency techniques and bolt clipping. The illustrations and photographs are very clear and the text is easy to follow, which I find makes for easy learning. It has a plastic cover, which means it can be taken out of doors and used on the crag for practical learning. The author obviously enjoyed himself writing it, and I've enjoyed using it. Quite excellent.

A friend of mine wanted me to read this book so he let me borrow his version. He plans to go to Africa soon and climb Kilimanjaro and wanted me to know something about the experience. He couldn't have chosen a better book for this purpose. I loved the light humor, but also came away from the reading of this book with a deeper respect for those who are willing to take on this challenge. My comment to my friend was: "I think I would be dead if I tried to hike up that mountain"! The book is short and to the point, humorous, and the perfect book to share with a friend so they can better understand the experience. It's kind of written as though it was taken right out of the man's hiking journal (and probably was) so it's not a study in English grammar, but it was a joy to read. After reading my friend's copy, I came home, went online to Amazon and bought the book so my family could also enjoy it.

I am planning a trip to Kenya, and my friends are pushing me to join them when they hike Mt Kili. I bought all the technical books and felt I still didn't understand if this was right for me. After reading this book I've developed a new respect for individuals who push their limits for the sake of personal desire, not to prove they are tough or adventurous. I also developed a new respect for the term 'comic relief' -- it pointed out how dangerous this can be and in very memorable way prepared me better than a list of required gear. The author has a clever ability to bring humor to the potential dangers of this hike. This is a refreshing and honest funny voice. I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

The author's awesome attainments in mountaineering: the only living man with two first ascents of 8,000-meter mountains, are matched by his boundless curiosity and his enthusiasm for every new experience. He is a man of high good humor, tenacity, and independence with remarkable communication skills.

The autobiography is three books "Summits and Secrets" written as a young man, "The Endless Knot" takes up his ascent and harrowing descent of K2 in 1986 and the loss of his beloved partner, Julie Tullis who died there; and "Spirits of the Air" written in middle age.

Though "Summits and Secrets" covers interesting material about Diemberger's childhood and early manhood, I found the translation to be stiff. I fault the translator because the other two books are so free flowing and at times lyrical. In these autobiographies, you get a sense of the complete man, not just his genius on the mountains. He loves to sing (he claims it helps him breathe better on the mountain), can and does swear thunderously in German when thwarted, has small vanities, and a never failing appreciation of the charms of the ladies. Unlike many of the climbing fraternity, he doesn't appear to have a double standard where women climbers are involved. He judges everyone on his or her merits. I became so attuned to his storytelling, I felt as if it was all directed to me personally, that he wanted me to be entertained and share his wonder and delight at all he had seen. I am glad to report that as of this date, Kurt is still going strong lecturing, climbing and doing camera work. The story ends at 1991, and I had to follow up to see how he has fared this last decade.

The much-traveled Mr. Diemberger for some reason had never been in the United States until his 40th year. (Maybe because we cannot boast of any 8,000 meter peaks!) He was an enthusiastic tourist as is shown in the following excerpt from "Spirits of the Air." His awe and amazement during his helicopter flight through Grand Canyon is infectious:

"I am staggered! Overwhelmed is no word for it! And anyway, there's no time to be overwhelmed when new sensations are continually bombarding you, shaking you, grabbing your attention, whetting your appetite for even more unexpected thrills. You are looking ahead, back, down, as gigantic buttresses sweep past, pillars and palaces of red rock, side valleys opening and closing, the terrific gorge agape below you--- You are flying through the biggest trough on earth. All the pictures I have ever seen of the Grand Canyon are forgotten. They are tiny facets, mosaic pieces, nothing more - I see that now. No human brain can comprehend this intricate labyrinth that is the Grand Canyon. It is a world!"

Let Kurt take you on his journey. You will never regret it.

Of this omnibus I have read only The Endless Knot but am so impressed with it that I wanted to lodge a review. This account of climbing K2 during one of its hungriest years is rendered luminous by the simple, unaffected, honest and straightforward affection between Kurt and his working partner Julie. Kurt's "married to the mountain" prose and his personal honesty make this a genuine monument in the literature.

My wife and I had the pleasure of reading this book and through its inspiration we were encouraged to climb the Matterhorn ourselves. The book not only provides invaluable advice in preparing one for the climb itself, but is also an entertaining account of another's lifelong ambition to scale a great mountain. We recommend the book to anyone who has an aspiration to make the climb or just enjoy reading about the experience. We know you will enjoy it as much as we did.

My wife and I had the pleasure of reading this book and through its inspiration were encouraged to climb the Matterhorn ourselves. This book not only prepares one for the climb itself, but is also an entertaining account of a man's success in achieving his longtime goal. It is a great book for those aspiring to climb this special mountain or just enjoy reading about it. Happy Reading!

This book has it all! Interesting, well thought out characters that you can't help but to fall in love with, psychics, mind control, CIA conspiracies, aliens bent on the destruction of the world, astral projection, time travel, and a slew of futuristic gadgets that I'd love to have. I want to be the main character, Alex Wilks, and I want to marry his girlfriend, Gwendolyn Flowers. She is genetically engineered too and is beautiful beyond words.

I've read it 7 times! In fact, I had to buy a second copy. I've been to G.R. Hagen's website, grhagen.com, and I've read the first couple of chapters of his next book. I've read that over and over too. I can't wait for it to come out. I've also heard hints of another series of books he's working on where Alex Wilks will have at least a cameo in. The first of the new series is supposed to be called The BlackSky of Ganymede, and it is about a futuristic group of NATO "super soldiers" called the BlackSky, who are responsible for the protection of the earth. MAN I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

To G.R. Hagen: You are a great writer, but what's taking you so long with the next books?!?! Hurry! ... Please :) God Bless!!

What a terrific book, it's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel...can't wait for the second. The events and characterizations combine to make it a truly enjoyable reading experience...I couldn't wait to turn to the next page. I was disappointed only in the fact that the book had to end; however, I look forward to its sequel and additional work by Mr. Hagen.

Having traveled to Pahrump, & Las Vegas Nevada myself, I especially enjoyed the settings, which were interesting, unique & well described with a fresh perspective. Alex Wilkes is an intriguing individual and his outlook on the world & his fellow man are endearing, at times funny, and make you identify with the lead character. The side characters & events seem very real & quite fascinating.

Mind Climbing is a terrific read & I highly recommend it. Not just for science fiction readers, it's got universal appeal. But if you want a unique & interesting approach to the age old problems involved with saving the world, try this book. I loved it!

The Falcon Guides are easy to read and informative; in this guide Sean Isaac covers mixed climbing well; I particularly liked the training session details in the final chapters. Anyone interested in mixed climbing but who does not yet have experience lead climbing/ice-climbing shoud review rock and ice gear placement in the other Falcon guides.

Mixed climbing--or M-climbing as it is known to experienced climbers--is the most challenging, most hazardous kind of rock and mountain climbing. It involves climbing over mixed surfaces such as sheer rock face, the undersides of rock outcroppings, or icy patches in any weather conditions. This is a complete manual to this type of climbing by an expert, award-winning climber. Isaac covers equipment, techniques, safety, and exercises for preparation for the incomparable physical demands called for in mixed climbing. Each of these areas includes sharp photographs, including many especially instructive close-ups.

The book is very good. The history of the mountain makes it simple to write something interesting, but certainly Mr. Beckey has done an excellent and very comprehensive work, and he deserves the credit. The reading is fine too. I only missed some more detailed sketches of the routes, and at times I got a bit lost in the succession of climbing expeditions (though it is true that the book has a chronology at the end).

Also some of the final chapters perhaps do not belong in this book, but all in all I certainly recommend it.

Commenting on a Fred Beckey climbing book is a little like critiquing a Mozart opera: who among us, really, has any standing to question him? It's remarkable that the man combines such complete mastery of two crafts, both climbing and writing. Compared to Reinhold Messner, another heroic climber and author, Beckey's writing is much better, more insightful, and ultimately far more useful. The book begins with a forward by Heinrich Harrer, famous for the first climb of the north face of the Eiger, as well as his books "The White Spider" and "Seven Years in Tibet." Much of the book is a history, detailing the early explorations and attempts, including Cook, the sourdough expedition, and the Reverend Stuck's successful climb, on through the pioneering climbs of other routes on the mountain. This is one more book that demonstrates that, in his areas of experience, Fred Beckey is unsurpassed. He is a climber's climber (not least because of his legendary guidebooks) and this is a climber's book on Denali. It's extensively footnoted and makes good use of historical photos, which is a nice professional touch, but the real value of the book is Beckey's total knowledge of climbing and of the mountain. One of the chapters details his participation on the first climb of the NW buttress (the first ascent of the Wickersham Wall) as well as his subsequent first ascent, with Harrer, of nearby Mt. Hunter. It's hard to imagine undertaking a climb of Denali without reading this book first; the last section includes complete route descriptions of the four most-climbed routes on the mountain, an extensive record of accidents and disasters, including analysis of what went wrong, and a chapter on logistics and equipment. Some things have changed; Talkitna is already more built-up than it was in '93 when the book was published (with a soberingly well-used cemetary) and the standard routes are more crowded than ever, but the same accidents happen for the same reasons. If everyone who attempted the mountain read this book, it would be a safer place.

As a NOLS Grad this book is great to help you stay fresh and even if you aren't it is a great way to learn the right way to do things.

This was bascially my course book on a NOLS mountaineering course I took. The basic skills needed for mountaineering we learned can be found in this book. It's great to have it around your house to look through just to keep your skills fresh in your mind when you're not mountaineering. If you are going into mountaineering don't think that just by reading this book you'll be ready. Take a NOLS course. NOLS always produces high quality stuff.

Tom is both a gifted climber and writer. If you like arm chair mountaineering books, and have read "the White spider" or any of the other North face of the Eiger climbing books you'll really love his take on that climb. Plus his climbers dictionary is just great. I second this opinion, buy this book!

Tom Patey not only climbed some wicked routes, but was an incredibly gifted and humorous writer, often in a self effacing manner. This is one of the best climbing books I have ever read. Three words: Buy this book!