By Sharael Feist
2003
What better way to intrigue a climber than with a good book? There are lots of interesting climbing books out there filled with fascinating facts, historical accounts and inspiring tales. One of the following climbing books is sure to pique the interest of a climber you know.
1) Climb! by Pete Takeda is part of National Geographic’s Extreme Sports collection. Geared towards a younger audience, this easy-to-read 64-page book covers bouldering, alpinism, sport climbing, trad climbing, and ice climbing. It’s a good overall introduction to climbing. It is filled with information about gear, technique and terms. The colorful photos make it enjoyable to look at.
2) Over the Edge by Greg Child unveils the chilling story of four young American climbers who were taken hostage at gunpoint while climbing in the Kyrgyzstan mountains of Central Asia. The gripping story–with a tragic ending–is ultimately a story of survival…at any price.
3) To the Top 0f Everest by Laurie Skreslet follows the life of accomplished climber Laurie Skreslet as he prepares for and ultimately triumphs over Everest. Filled with lots of photos, this book will be entertaining for a younger audience eager to learn what it’s actually like to scale the world’s highest peak.
4) Triumph on Everest by Broughton Coburn includes photobiography of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Mt. Everest. It is a historical look into the essence of climbing as we know it today. Packed with historical photographs, this 64-page book describes the life of the world’s most legendary mountaineer. Sure to captivate a younger audience interested in climbing.
5) Mystery On Everest by Audrey Salkeld is a photobiography of legendary George Mallory’s ultimately fatal attempt to climb one of the most challenging summits on Earth. With archival photographs, this story of Mallory’s life captures his love of the mountain. This 64-page book is geared toward a younger audience, but will be interesting to those of all ages.
6) Women Who Risk by Hatherleigh Press focuses on many different extreme sports, there is a chapter about rock climber Lynn Hill and mountaineer Kristen Lignell. The book, written by Marilyn Olsen, is filled with profiles of women who participate in adventurous sports, such as snowboarding and mountain biking. It is an inspiring book for any woman to read.