Wilmette Public Library Bibliography

Mountain Adventures

An annotated list of exciting stories of mountain climbing achievements and disasters.

The Other Side of Everest: climbing the north face through the killer storm. 1999   796.522 DI

Climbing amateur, Dickinson, was on the north face during the May 1996 disasters. He recounts the struggles and includes stunning photographs.

Allison, Stacy.  Beyond the Limits  1993   796.522 AL

Allison progressed from local rock climbing to being the first American woman on Everest. This memoir is full of “edge of your seat” action.

Anker, Conrad and Roberts, David .   The Lost Explorer: finding Mallory on Mt. Everest  1999   796.522 AN

In June 1924 George Mallory and Sandy Irvine disappeared from the slopes of Everest into the romantic mists of history. In May 1999 gifted climber Conrad Anker discovered Mallory’s mummified body. Although much of the mystery still remains, Anker tells the story of his expedition and the answers he surmised.

Boardman, Peter.  The Shining Mountain  1984   796.52 BO

Fortitude and wit are with the author on a 1976 climb of Changabang’s west face.

Bonington, Chris.  Tibet’s Secret Mountain: the triumph of Sepu Kangri  1999   796.522 BO

Despite using high tech reconnaissance and equipment, Bonington was unsuccessful in reaching the peak in two climbs. However, he was very successful in connecting with the Tibetan people and land and he brings it alive here.

Breashears, David.  High Exposure: an enduring passion for Everest and unforgiving places  1999   796.522 BR

This is an exciting personal memoir ably written by the noted mountaineer cinematographer perhaps best know to us as the director of the IMAX film, Everest.

Brown, Rebecca A..  Women on High: pioneers of mountaineering  2002   796.522 BR

Mountain climbing is not an exclusively male endeavor; women simply face more challenges. This was even more true in the 19th Century when women were further hampered by corsets and dresses!

Curran, Jim.  K2, Triumph and Tragedy  1987   796.52 CU

In 1986 nine expeditions attempted to summit K2; 13 people died. Curran, a photographer/participant tells the gripping story with words and pictures.

Fleming, Fergus.  Killing Dragons: the conquest of the Alps  2000   796.522 FL

Romantics, scientists, ne’er-do-wells, and the occasional oddball were drawn to these frozen European mountains. Fleming tells vivid stories with humor.

Harlin, John.  Eiger Obsession: facing the mountain that killed my father  2007   796.522 HA

Harlin’s father fell to his death during a climb up the direct route of Eiger. Harlin returned many years later with an IMAX team.

Herzog, Maurice.  Annapurna, first conquest of an 8000-meter peak  1955   796.522 HE

Herzog’s book is number 6 on the National Geographic Society’s list, Extreme Classics: 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time. It is probably the most influential mountaineering book ever written.

Hillary, Edmund.  High Adventure  1955   915.4 HI

Sir Edmund Hillary’s personal account of the first Everest summit brings the reader on a remarkable journey of achievement.

Kocour, Ruth.  Facing the Extreme  1992   796.522 KO

Kocour, a veteran mountaineer, tells a story of human endurance and survival half way up Mt. McKinley as a storm with winds up to 100 mph and temperatures 47 degrees below zero takes the lives of 11 other climbers.

Krakauer, Jon.  Into Thin Air  1997   796.522 KR

Talented journalist, Krakauer, was on hand during the 1996 Everest disaster and here gives a riveting first person account of what went wrong.

Olsen, Jack.  The Climb Up to Hell  1962   914.94 OL

This is a vivid account of a daring mountain rescue attempt of climbers stranded on the Eiger. It reads like the best of narrative non-fiction.

Ridgeway, Rick.  Below Another Sky: a mountain adventure in search of a lost father  2001   796.522 RI

In 1980 the author was caught in an avalanche on Tibet’s Minya Konka. Fellow climber and National Geographic photographer, Jonathan Wright perished. Twenty years later Wright’s daughter and the author go to find her father’s grave. Join them on this emotional and spiritual journey.

Ridgeway, Rick.  The Last Step: the American ascent of K2  1980   796.52 RI

The inside story of the first American summit of K2. The team spent 67 days on the mountain, most over 18,000 feet.

Roberts, David.  True Summit: what really happened on the legendary ascent of Annapurna  2000   796.522 RO

The 50th anniversary of this legendary ascent led Roberts to re-evaluate the story of the climb. His book includes information about the climbers that has been long suppressed or heavily edited. It is a compelling tale regardless of author

Simpson, Joe.  Touching the Void  1988   796.522 SI

Fear, friendship, terror and courage are all here in this harrowing tale of survival on a climb in the Andes.

Venables, Stephan.  Everest: Alone at the Summit  2000   796.522 VE

The climb up the east face of Everest is so difficult that it was not successfully accomplished until 1983. In 1988 Venables led 3 climbers up this Kangshung face without oxygen. This is a riveting tale of human endurance.

Created/Last Revised: 03/17/08 by Kathleen O'Meara