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Best Mountain Climbing

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. Dave Barry...[Readers] may find themselves turning the pages with increasing amusement and anticipation as they discover that they're in the hands of a satirist of the first rank who writes (and walks) with Chaucerian brio.” —The New York Times Book Review.
Reviews
"I'm a sexagenarian who, on a recent vacation, happened to walk out and back on the first three miles or so of the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (Springer Mtn, GA) and, in a fit of exhilaration, decided then and there that I would, by golly, hike the AT before I died. As I was joyfully entertained by his incisive sense of humor, I was simultaneously and seriously learning history, biology, geology (and several other -ologies) as well as being discomfitted by Bryson's documentation of our culture's dismissive practices regarding ecology."
"Read one and except for a few events, you've pretty much read them all and almost any extended backpacking trip involves the same rigors, risks, weather and that mixture of misery and exhilaration."
"One of the funniest books you will every read."
"Bill's storytelling captured me immediately...I was taking every step he took, I enjoyed every vista he looked out on, I was eavesdropping on his conversations with his fellow hikers and feeling the spectrum of emotions held for his friend and hiking companion."
"An adventure that walks you experientially and historically through the nation's longest series of trails from Georgia to Maine while feeling every fear from blisters, hunger, thirst, wildlife, climate changes, man's limitations and nature's nuances, all the while trekking with a forty pound pack on your back, and any one of these could do you in, well it's a wonder why the wild is so compelling."
"With the film in theaters, I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I loved this book, and place it among Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," Cheryl Strayed's "Wild," and Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Last American Man" in terms of well-written essays that explore our yearning to return to a simpler, untethered way of life."
"Unfortunately some of his stories about what happened to people along the trail, made me not that interested in walking any trail."
"I think Bill Bryson is an incredibly good writer whose humor extends to poking as much fun at himself as he does at others."
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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
He takes great pains to provide a balanced picture of the people and events he witnessed and gives due credit to the tireless and dedicated Sherpas. He also avoids blasting easy targets such as Sandy Pittman, the wealthy socialite who brought an espresso maker along on the expedition. In the end, despite his evenhanded and even generous assessment of others' actions, he reserves a full measure of vitriol for himself. His account of an ascent of Mount Everest has led to a general reevaluation of climbing and of the commercialization of what was once a romantic, solitary sport; while his account of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation after challenging the Alaskan wilderness, delves even more deeply and disturbingly into the fascination of nature and the devastating effects of its lure on a young and curious mind." Gracefully and efficiently written, carefully researched, and actually lived by its narrator, it shares a similar theme with another sort of book, a novel called " The Great Gatsby ." — The Wall Street Journal "Krakauer is an extremely gifted storyteller as well as a relentlessly honest and even-handed journalist, the story is riveting and wonderfully complex in its own right, and Krakauer makes one excellent decision after another about how to tell it.... To call the book an adventure saga seems not to recognize that it is also a deeply thoughtful and finely wrought philosophical examination of the self." " Into Thin Air is a remarkable work of reportage and self-examination.... And no book on the 1996 disaster is likely to consider so honestly the mistakes that killed his colleagues." "In this movingly written book, Krakauer describes an experience of such bone-chilling horror as to persuade even the most fanatical alpinists to seek sanctuary at sea level."
Reviews
"The recent release of Everest (or reinterpretation) prompted me to read this as well as other books about the climbing season in question."
"Gripping story of the tragic Everest ascent on which many members of various climbing groups lost their lives."
"I believe Krakauer did an excellent job of backing up his facts and represented what happened at Everest as best as he could."
"one of the most amazing, exciting, horrifying, detailed adventures I've ever read about."
"I found this book to be engaging, interest, and well-written. I didn't realize when I bought the book, that it is highly controversial."
"Definitively a good book to read for all who knows a bit about survival in cold environments, and maybe just a dramatic story for those who have never had any experience with it."
"There are two very important lessons that I will take away from this book, and to Mr. Krakauer I am eternally grateful because he allowed me to learn them from the warmth of my home, rather than in a -150F gale on top of the world. If you make rash decisions (and you will, Krakauer notes repeatedly thought this work that lucidity is nigh impossible above 28,000 feet) it is very likely that you will die. Hundreds of horrifically under-qualified individuals attempt this climb without specific glacier navigation experience, relying on the skill and knowledge of world class guides to make up for their considerable shortcomings. Indeed, several family members of the deceased have decried Krakauer's prose, both in private and through the media, as speculative, misleading and downright slanderous. Much of this is a matter of perspective, but for my part it seems as though this book's narrative was written by an objective observer who reported his perceptions with as little subjective judgment as possible."
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Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills
For the all-new 9th Edition, committees comprosed of active climbers and climbing educators reviewed every chapter of instruction, and discussed updates with staff from the American Alpine Club (AAC), the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the Access Fund. They also worked with professional members of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), to review their work and ensure that the updated textbook includes the most current best practices for both alpine and rock climbing instruction. From gear selection to belay and repel techniques, from glacier travel to rope work, to safety, safety, and more safety―there is no more comprehensive and thoroughly vetted training manual for climbing than the standard set by Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition. Over the years, hundreds of thousands have learned outdoor safety and skills from The Mountaineers, ranging from climbing to skiing to kayaking, and much more.
Reviews
"This book really does a great job of showing those methods and explaining why they are done in such a way."
"It covers everything from glacial travel to packing to climbing knots to setting up a pulley rescue system."
"It is still a staple when I teach rock climbing to new folks."
"One note, if you are looking for a relatively quick reference guide to certain mountaineering or alpine climbing information, this is not it."
"Great book."
"Great book with plenty of useful information to the beginner or intermediate climber."
"It has everything from high tech climbing gear to improvising with minimal equipment or just a rope, and survival."
"There is not a great deal of mountaineering, bouldering, or bill wall climbing in my future however one of the things that is needed in the volunteer work that I do is a core understanding of the basics of rock climbing if only to afford a better competency if called upon to assist in medical call-outs via radio when I'm already out in the field."
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Best Mountaineering

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. Dave Barry...[Readers] may find themselves turning the pages with increasing amusement and anticipation as they discover that they're in the hands of a satirist of the first rank who writes (and walks) with Chaucerian brio.” —The New York Times Book Review.
Reviews
"I'm a sexagenarian who, on a recent vacation, happened to walk out and back on the first three miles or so of the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail (Springer Mtn, GA) and, in a fit of exhilaration, decided then and there that I would, by golly, hike the AT before I died. As I was joyfully entertained by his incisive sense of humor, I was simultaneously and seriously learning history, biology, geology (and several other -ologies) as well as being discomfitted by Bryson's documentation of our culture's dismissive practices regarding ecology."
"Read one and except for a few events, you've pretty much read them all and almost any extended backpacking trip involves the same rigors, risks, weather and that mixture of misery and exhilaration."
"One of the funniest books you will every read."
"Bill's storytelling captured me immediately...I was taking every step he took, I enjoyed every vista he looked out on, I was eavesdropping on his conversations with his fellow hikers and feeling the spectrum of emotions held for his friend and hiking companion."
"An adventure that walks you experientially and historically through the nation's longest series of trails from Georgia to Maine while feeling every fear from blisters, hunger, thirst, wildlife, climate changes, man's limitations and nature's nuances, all the while trekking with a forty pound pack on your back, and any one of these could do you in, well it's a wonder why the wild is so compelling."
"With the film in theaters, I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I loved this book, and place it among Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," Cheryl Strayed's "Wild," and Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Last American Man" in terms of well-written essays that explore our yearning to return to a simpler, untethered way of life."
"Unfortunately some of his stories about what happened to people along the trail, made me not that interested in walking any trail."
"I think Bill Bryson is an incredibly good writer whose humor extends to poking as much fun at himself as he does at others."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Rock Climbing

Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills
For the all-new 9th Edition, committees comprosed of active climbers and climbing educators reviewed every chapter of instruction, and discussed updates with staff from the American Alpine Club (AAC), the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the Access Fund. They also worked with professional members of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), to review their work and ensure that the updated textbook includes the most current best practices for both alpine and rock climbing instruction. From gear selection to belay and repel techniques, from glacier travel to rope work, to safety, safety, and more safety―there is no more comprehensive and thoroughly vetted training manual for climbing than the standard set by Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition. Over the years, hundreds of thousands have learned outdoor safety and skills from The Mountaineers, ranging from climbing to skiing to kayaking, and much more.
Reviews
"This book really does a great job of showing those methods and explaining why they are done in such a way."
"It covers everything from glacial travel to packing to climbing knots to setting up a pulley rescue system."
"It is still a staple when I teach rock climbing to new folks."
"One note, if you are looking for a relatively quick reference guide to certain mountaineering or alpine climbing information, this is not it."
"Great book."
"Great book with plenty of useful information to the beginner or intermediate climber."
"It has everything from high tech climbing gear to improvising with minimal equipment or just a rope, and survival."
"There is not a great deal of mountaineering, bouldering, or bill wall climbing in my future however one of the things that is needed in the volunteer work that I do is a core understanding of the basics of rock climbing if only to afford a better competency if called upon to assist in medical call-outs via radio when I'm already out in the field."
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Best General Washington Travel Guides

Olympic Mountains Trail Guide: National Park & National Forest 3rd Edition
Also find in this hiking guidebook numbered hikes for quick reference; detailed information blocks for each trail; and weather information for each section of the Olympic Mountains. The man has walked thousands of miles in the range over the past half century, and his knowledge shows here.
Reviews
"What I've also noticed is that some of the distances are off but I won't knock off a star for it as it's hard to calculate trail distance unless you specifically do it."
"I just moved to the OP and am enjoying reading through an explaination of each part of the park, history, topography, and what to expect as well as the trail info."
"Used this for a one week backpacking trip to Olympic National park."
"It includes many lesser known hikes not included in the standard hiking guides."
"Best Olympic Mountain guide book I have ever read."
"This guide is great."
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Best Mount Rainier Washington Travel Books

Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trail
Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trail is an authoritative guidebook penned by Washington native Tami Asars, a professional instructor on hiking the trail, a third-generation hiker of the Cascade mountains, and seven-time hiker of the entire Wonderland Trail. Be sure to connect with Tami on her Facebook page, subscribe to her backpacking blog, or for everything Wonderland Trail be sure to check out hikingthewonderlandtrail.com.
Reviews
"I am very grateful to have this jewel at my fingertips to plan my hike of the Wonderland Trail about a year and a half from now."
"Most places (e.g., Yosemite NP, most Sierra trailheads) have campgrounds at the trailhead where one can count on camping the night before and after, but Rainier appears to have no such options at Lake Mowich or Sunrise or Longmire."
"Excellent informative resources that saved a lot of time to work and prepare."
"For me, it brought back rich memories of a family-group hike 38 years ago: my mother at 78, myself at 44, my brother at 40, a young adult friend in her thirties, three teen-age boys (two during one section, a different one during the rest)."
"Great book!"
"Excellent book, I plan to have it on my kindle as well."
"Very entertaining and descriptive book."
"Thorough and funny, this is an excellent guide to hiking the Wonderland Trail."
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Best Whitewater Kayaking

No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon
Erik Weihenmayer is the first and only blind person to summit Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. No Barriers is Erik’s response to that challenge. Erik Weihenmayer is a bestselling author, athlete, adventurer, and motivational speaker.
Reviews
""No Barriers" begins immediately after his successful summit of Mount Everest in 2001, and he weaves his adventures, humanitarian and philanthropic activities through to his and Lonnie Bedwell ("the other blind guy")'s perception shattering kayak adventure down the Grand Canyon."
"I've known Erik personally since 2002, and it still blows me away what an awesome journey he's on."
"An entertaining, enlightening & motivational book!"
"An amazing story about an amazing man."
"Can't write a review just yet."
"Fascinating story..great read for teens...and parents."
"The preamble, as I'm calling it, is all about Weihenmayer's adventures and endeavors leading up to the kayaking trip, and he's done some pretty amazing stuff: not only is a climber and adventurer (yes, he summited Everest), but the first couple hundred pages of the book recount how he lost his sight, the various non-profit organizations he's been part of helping kids, and also his own journey to adopt a child from South Asia. He always works with a well qualified team of folks who help him out a bit, and his honesty about this is compelling. NOTE: While the review copy of this book that I read (pre-publication) did not have pictures, I'm guessing that the final version that comes out in early 2017 will have some illustrations. The pics I've attached to this review are available online and illustrate Weihenmayer style and charisma."
"So to read about his very human struggles, feelings, reactions and behaviors made me feel like I now understand him. I read it on my kindle, but if I had been reading a hard copy it would be covered with highlights and post it notes."
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Best Hiking & Camping Instructional Guides

Buck, Buck, Moose: Recipes and Techniques for Cooking Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope and Other Antlered Things
Buck, Buck, Moose also includes a lengthy section on curing venison and sausage-making. For that reason, I devoured every page of Buck, Buck, Moose . Hank Shaw lives, sleeps, eats, and breathes venison--and his passion is palpable.
Reviews
"Pretty good book."
"Great Recipes."
"Present for my hunter son."
"Hank Shaw has done it again, created another wonderful, and informative work of art!"
"So helpful!"
"I have made numerous recipes and had two dinner party's all with glowing reviews!!"
"Just got my copy and love it.The quality of binding & cover is worth the price.What's inside is a treasure."
"Delicious, easy to follow, and detailed recipes,"
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Best Mountaineering Travel Guides

The Tour of Mont Blanc: Complete two-way trekking guide
Accommodation along the route is plentiful.The 'official' Tour du Mont Blanc follows an established route around the main block of mountains containing not only Mont Blanc but its principal allied summits. A member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club, his passion for mountains and the countryside remains undiminished, and he regularly travels throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures.
Reviews
"My experience is that quoted walking times would be approximately accurate for someone with good prior conditioning carrying a light pack in good weather."
"(I ended up cutting out the CCW section since we were doing CW). Overall a great resource and everyone on the TMB had this, but like most things, there can be improvements."
"A single exception: the description of the start at the top of the cable car out of Les Houches is no longer accurate, and hasn't been for at least 5 years."
"This is hands-down the definitive guide to the TMB."
"The maps in the book are fairly simple, but helpful in letting us know what kind of elevation gains we would be making and approximate walking times."
"This guide has everything you need... except the muscle... to do this amazing hike on your own."
"This book is invaluable for anyone considering walking the TMB."
"Excellent and understandable."
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