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Best books about historic climbing
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I love learning about climbing history, and I love reading books about climbing. Most climbing books are by big names in modern climbing, however. I know of Hangdog Days and Camp 4: Recollections of a Yosemite Rockclimber, and will be reading those soon. What else is out there? |
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If you type the word “trad” on MP multiple users will be sure to give you a free climbing history lesson. |
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K2 The Savage Mountain will really put your complaints about conditions at the crag in perspective |
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The West Ridge by Dr. Thomas Hornbein. Great book! |
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The last of his kind - David Robert’s |
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Yankee Rock & Ice Lynn Hill autobiography |
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Paul Preuss: Lord of the Abyss |
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Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage by Hermann Buhl is worth a read if you are interested in alpinism. Keep in mind that he accomplished everything in that book before dying at the age of 32… |
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Glen Denny - Valley Walls |
j mo wrote: As someone who climbs in both pinnacles and the valley I am stoked for this one in particular. Lots of really good suggestions, I'm gonna read a lot of them! Thanks! |
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If you can read German - and decipher old German text - then 'Um die Eiger-Nordwand' is probably worth a look. Written in 1938 by the four participants in the first ascent of the face it's probably as close to 'out of the horse's mouth' as you'll get. |
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I love reading about climbing history, these are a few books that stood out to me as extra memorable and good reads; Heinrich Harrer - The white spider |
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David Roberts: Deborah & The Mountain of My Fear The White Spider Starlight & Storm Another vote for the Buhl & Bonatti books. I enjoyed Kelly’s The Tower. A great read. The Denny book is enjoyable; I just wish it was longer! Edit: @Mike- jinx! |
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No Picnic on Mount Kenya. Terrific story of an escape and climb during WWII. |
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Not terribly historical, but I really enjoyed Steve House, Beyond the Mountain. Also just finished Jim Perrin's biography of Don Whillans (title: The Villain). His book on Shipton and Tilman is also good. Another that I liked recently: Dougal Haston, In High Places. And a classic: Tom Patey, One Man's Mountains. Cult classic: Brown and Mitchell, Mountain Days and Bothy Nights: A Walk with Luath. Murray, Mountaineering in Scotland. |
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The Tillman mountaineering books |
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A couple I've really enjoyed: Climbing in North America - Chris Jones Wizards of Rock, a History of Free Climbing in America - Pat Ament |
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I enjoyed both 'Revelations' Jerry Moffatt and 'Statement' the Ben Moon story. |
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OK, this isn’t about climbing, but I suspect anyone who climbs would find it an amazing read, and maybe it will inspire you to hang in there during that cold, unplanned bivvy when you think you are really suffering… The story of Ernest Shackleton’s voyage of the Endurance, the book by Alfred Lansing. One of the most amazing survival stories you well ever read. |
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Rock Jocks, Wall Rats, and Hangdogs - John Long less historical but great read. |
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The Vertical World of Yosemite - collection of stories from the early days of Yosemite climbing curated by Galen Rowell. If you have an interest in Yosemite climbing it's a must read and so darn good. 50 Classic Climbs of North America - Rock climbing and mountaineering by Steve Roper and Allen Steck. Downward Bound by Warren Harding My Life series by Royal Robbins |
