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Title Author Description

Climbing Mt. Shasta		 Steve Lewis This is the definitive guide for climbing Northern California's mountain masterpiece. Pre trip preparation, gear lists, and seasonal climbing conditions offered. This book is a great introduction for novices, those new to climbing and even experienced climbers in regards to what is involved with a climb of Mt. Shasta. Climbing Mt. Shasta focuses in detail on the most popular route, Avalanche Gulch. Enjoy glissading tips and tricks. This was the book we purchased before our first successful summit bid in the late 90's. 
 

Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season 		Nick Heil Ten years after the infamous events of 1996, another climbing season on earth's tallest mountain produces controversy. If you enjoyed Into Thin Air (see below), you will surely be gripped by the clutches of this book. It is a fast paced read in which you are quickly immersed in the world of extreme altitude mountaineering and the fine line decisions that climbers & guides have to make on the spur of the moment. A Beck Weathers type survival story is one of the uplifting parts of this book.
  

High & Wild		 Galen Rowell A collection of short, mostly mountain & rock climbing stories. Join now deceased famed photographer Galen Rowell on his International adventures ranging from the icy slopes of an Alaskan range to formidable routes in the great Himalayas. As expected from a photographer of Rowell's caliber, spectacular photos accompany the stories. At the time of his untimely death in a plane crash near Bishop California, he was one of America's greatest outdoor photographers.
  

Into Thin Air		 Jon Krakaeur Describes the events of the Everest Tragedy in 1996. This is a high altitude struggle for survival that involves mortality as well as one man's amazing survival for a night unsheltered above 27,000 feet after he was left for dead. This is a gripping exciting read that makes it hard to put the book down. If you are a fast read you will be absorbed in the events that happened in 1996 and before you know it, several hours will have passed in the blink of an eye! We were in the Everest base camp area 3.5 months before these awful events took place.
  

Mountains of Africa		 Duncan Souchon Often "mountains", are not usually mentioned in the same breath when discussing Africa. Jungles, big game, safari, sand dunes, sure - but not mountains! And if a mountain is mentioned it is always Mt. Kilimanjaro. This book debunks any myths that Africa is flat and or completely covered in jungles. Pictures of jagged snow and ice covered mountains could be taken anywhere in the world. Mountains of Africa covers in depth the major mountains, rifts and ranges. Many of these are located in Eastern Africa and the North. A nice map in the beginning shows all the mountains that are spotlighted. Highlights include the mountains of Eastern Africa, the Ethiopian highlands and the Atlas Mountains. There is great accompanying photography. This makes a fine small coffee table book.
 

The Other Side of Everest		 Matt Dickinson This gripping tale is told by a fairly novice climber (at the time) who summits Mt. Everest from the north side during the infamous climbing season of 1996. He joins a team from the UK to film an Everest expedition. Ultimately he along with the UK's most famous high elevation climber, Alan Hinkes and three Sherpas are thrown together after a number of their group drops out. They all summit - this book is a must read for anyone enthralled with the idea of climbing Mt. Everest.
  

Touching the Void		 Joe Simpson In our opinion, this is probably the most amazing mountaineering survival story of all time. Two climbers set out to climb a 6,000+ meter peak in the Cordillera Huayash range in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. An accident befalls one of the climbers and his partner makes a life or death choice. We've climbed a number of times in this part of the Andes - these are some of the most spectacular mountains in the world!
 

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