This is the first and only definitive book about the free-climbing history of North America, written by Master of Rock Pat Ament. While other books have covered some of the material, there has never been as clear a chronology or as thorough, accurate, and well-researched a treatment. Ament leaves the critique and analysis to others and lets these remarkable events speak for themselves in a succinct, refreshing, and imitable style. The book includes interviews and commentary by many world-class climbers, including Royal Robbins, John Gill, Pete Cleveland, Henry Barber, John Bachar, Lynn Hill, John Long, Steve Roper, Jimmy Dunn, Dean potter, and Alan Watts. Photographs from prominent climbing photographers, such as Tom Frost, illustrate the prose and bring to life the personalities of many of these legendary climbers. Numerous climbing areas are covered, from the Adirondacks in upstate New York, to Arizona, the Pacific Northwest, Devils Lake in Wisconsin, and The Needles in South Dakota. This readable encyclopedia includes interviews, anecdotes, stories, and colorful quotes, along with funny and imaginiative writing. This is the book for newcomers to the sport as well as long-time aficionados. It will appeal to both die-hard climbers and to those who prefer adventuring in an armchair. A marvelous sense of suspense and adventure radiates from virtually every page.

Hill describes her famous climb and meditates on how she harnesses the strength and courage to push herself to such extremes.

* Author donates 25% of his proceeds from the book to the Access Fund * 50 behind-the-climb stories * 50 profiles of contemporary elite climbers * 50 complete climbing route descriptions, many never published before * Over 100 spectacular full-color photos The Stories: Author Mark Kroese gets 50 of the most accomplished climbers of this generation to reveal their all-time favorite climbing routes. Renowned climber Tony Yaniro reveals his personal challenges and controversies as he ascents Scirocco, east face of the Sorcerer at the Needles in California. More inside scoop from Roxanna Brock, Mark Twight, Jared Ogden and other great climbers proves a riveting read. The Climbers: Each story includes a climber profile, garnered from hours of fascinating, thought-provoking, and often downright fun interviews. The climbers share personal anecdotes and offer their views on everything from ethics to style to training techniques. These well-crafted profiles give the reader a real sense of today's leading climbers. The Routes: From Newfoundland to Yosemite, Mexico to British Columbia, the favorite routes offers excellent climbing, stunning views, wild exposure, or spectacular summits. Each one includes a summary, description of the approach, the route itself, and the descent, along with first-ascent information, ratings, time required, recommended equipment, best season, special considerations, and references.

The complete history of North American mountaineering from the early nineteenth century through the 1970s.

Looks at the history, regional geology, and cultural quirks of rock climbing.

A comprehensive overview of bouldering guides readers through the best rock climbing sites in the U.S. while providing a history of the sport and its most famous participants.

First published in 1993 and hailed as a classic, Yankee Rock & Ice is now reissued in a new edition with four new chapters covering the 1990s through today to bring the book up to date. This comprehensive and entertaining history of roped rock and ice climbing in the Northeast traces the growth of this popular sport in New England and New York and covers the first trailblazers of the eighteenth century through today’s events and personalities. Well-known mountaineers and preservationists, Guy and Laura Waterman have explored every corner of the mountains of New England and New York and done solid historical research on first ascents of classic routes and the climbers who have made them legendary. Climber Michael Wejchert joins Laura for the work on the second edition.