'The Andes - A Guide for Climbers' is the only comprehensive guidebook about the peaks of the Andes. This is the 5th English edition of the only complete guidebook to the peaks of the Andes. It covers many areas not described in any other source. Previous editions have been translated into French, Spanish, Polish and Czech. The author, John Biggar, is a very experienced high-altitude mountaineer who has been climbing and skiing in the Andes for 30 years and has made ascents of over 350 peaks higher than 5000m. The 5th edition includes route information for all 100 of the major 6000m mountains, plus over 300 other peaks. With over 200 diagrams, 270 photos and 80 maps it also gives the best ski-mountaineering peaks in over 10 areas across 5 countries. Because an unforgettable journey starts with a thorough preparation, find out everything you need to know about climbing and skiing the Andes in this guide ! ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Biggar is a professional mountaineering instructor based in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. His first publication was an internal report for the nuclear physics department at Edinburgh University, entitled "Anisotropies in the Sequential Break-up of Li6". Since those days John has done little nuclear physics but has been climbing and ski-mountaineering in the Andes a lot. He has climbed many of the highest peaks, including 19 of the 20 highest, made over 100 ascents of 6000m peaks, plus 180 ascents of Andean 5000m peaks. He has made first ascents of six 6000m peaks and also made the first ski descent of Domuyo, the highest peak in Patagonia. A professional mountaineering instructor, he runs a business which specialises in mountaineering, skiing and ski-mountaineering expeditions to South America.

This book focuses on Perus highest and most glacierized mountain range the Cordillera Blanca. This mountain range experienced numerous disasters in the past (e.g. lake Palcacocha outburst in 1941, earthquake-induced ice and rock avalanche from Mt. Huascarn in 1970) and attracted the attention of researchers from around the world.The 15 chapters of the book span from broadly thematic topics of geology, geomorphology, climate, hydrology and hydrogeology, lakes, glaciation, and environmental settings to more specific topics and emergent themes of relevance for the Cordillera Blanca, including studies of various types of natural hazards (landslides, GLOFs). While most of the chapters focus on biophysical processes of the natural environment, several chapters explore the complex interactions between humans and environmental factors, providing insights and perspectives from social science and the humanities. This book is unprecedently comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge about the geo-environmental changes in the Cordillera Blanca.

This authoritative handbook, part of the Helm Identification Guide series, looks in detail at the beautiful antpittas. Elusive study organisms for ornithologists and highly prized additions to the birder's life-list, the antpittas (Grallariidae) and gnateaters (Conopophagidae) are among the most poorly known Neotropical bird groups. This authoritative handbook is the first book dedicated solely to these two families, combining an exhaustive review of more than two centuries of literature with original observations by the author and many knowledgeable contributors. Antpittas and Gnateaters provides a thorough guide to the identification and ecology of these birds, with detailed maps accompanying the text. A series of superb plates illustrate most of the 156 recognized taxa; supplemented by more than 250 colour photographs, the immature plumages and natural history of many species are depicted for the first time. This book is the ultimate reference on these remarkable and beautiful birds, and an indispensable addition to the libraries of researchers and birders for many years to come.

Each of the graded walks are presented against a background of cultural, historical and environmental information: village life, festivals, natural history and, importantly, low-impact ethical travel. Information on what to take, health and safety, local guides, and pack animals, along with many other topics make this guide indispensable.

This comprehensive reference offers an authoritative overview of Andean lifeways. It provides valuable historical context, and demonstrates the relevance of learning about the Andes in light of contemporary events and debates. The volume covers the ecology and pre-Columbian history of the region, and addresses key themes such as cosmology, aesthetics, gender and household relations, modes of economic production, exchange, and consumption, postcolonial legacies, identities, political organization and movements, and transnational interconnections. With over 40 essays by expert contributors that highlight the breadth and depth of Andean worlds, this is an essential resource for students and scholars alike.

For those who dream of exploring the magnificent Pacific coast, contemplating the infinite beauty of the Andes and immersing themselves in the boundless Amazonian jungle--Peru awaits. This South American gem offers an enviable wealth of different landscapes and climates--and more than 5,000 archaeological sites hidden in the heart of its forests, mountains, and deserts. The country's natural bounty is unique and extreme, from the arid deserts on the Pacific coast to the highest navigable lake on the planet to the imposing tropical mountain ranges. Of course, no visit to Peru is complete without a stop at Machu Picchu, and this guide does not disappoint with an itinerary just for visiting this ancient wonder. But beyond those historic walls, expert National Geographic writers provide thousands of other suggestions to immerse yourself in the colonial streets of Lima, taste the regional food, and explore Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire at 11,155 (3,400 m) above sea level. In this richly illustrated guide, find excursions to rarely-visited sites including the red sand beaches of Paracas Reserve--the first UNESCO protected natural area--and insider tips on popular destinations such as Lake Titicaca and its floating villages. Plus, follow our guides through the Peruvian Amazon--the best kept secret of South America and the last virgin forests on Earth. Comprehensive, practical, and inspiring, this is the ultimate guide to well-known and hidden Peru.