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Seven Summits: The Quest to Reach the Highest Point on Every Continent
Mountaineers thrive on challenge. The desire to stand on top of the highest point of each of the seven continents has fired the imagination of climbing enthusiasts from around the globe. Completion of this amazing feat (known as the Seven Summits) demands much of the climber -- to travel to remote and exotic corners of the world, scale the heights of mountain giants such as Everest and McKinley, and face extreme weather conditions and hostile environments for long periods over many years.Though the mountains can present deadly conditions and arduous climbs, they are attainable, with appropriate assistance and guidance, by the amateur climber as well as the highly skilled professional. Tales from both ends of this spectrum are contained in this book -- from an American businessman with little previous experience to arguably the finest alpine climber in the world -- all ensnared by the dream and stretched to the limits.
Seven Summits is organized by mountain and looks at the character and history of each mountain and its historical ascents. The climbers reveal through gripping essays the conditions in which they climbed, the decisions they made, and the exhilaration and danger experienced along the way. All successful summiteers are listed together with details of record holders and other amazing facts.
Seven Summits is organized by mountain and looks at the character and history of each mountain and its historical ascents. The climbers reveal through gripping essays the conditions in which they climbed, the decisions they made, and the exhilaration and danger experienced along the way. All successful summiteers are listed together with details of record holders and other amazing facts.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 24, 2015
This was a book that looks at each of the Seven Summits and publishes accounts by several climbers of their experience with it. It features route maps and lots of stunning photography to go along with it. It's a great read for those who love reading about climbing and the stories featured are a mixture of victory, defeat and diisaster.
March 16, 2019
A bit of a rollercoaster of a read.
The achievement is incredible. The work involved, not just the physical endeavour but the organisation and time commitment is unbelievable.
When you see or read about people reaching the big summits of the world, it is always the last stretch that we see. We don’t see the bit where they go up and down between camps lugging the equipment and spend weeks living in campsites.
I also felt however, that one of the reasons such things are beyond the average man on the street is the cost. For at least a third of the book I was thinking of rich folks buying themselves into the record books, which I didn’t want to feel but couldn’t help it.
I’m not sure the Sherpas get the kudos they should either. They are mentioned and even celebrated at times but at other times they are listed as an addendum to a team list of names plus “some Sherpas.” Some Sherpas that made the whole thing possible and have achieved the same (and usually more) than most of the “hero” climbers that go up there.
Still, it was an interesting and enjoyable read on the whole.
The achievement is incredible. The work involved, not just the physical endeavour but the organisation and time commitment is unbelievable.
When you see or read about people reaching the big summits of the world, it is always the last stretch that we see. We don’t see the bit where they go up and down between camps lugging the equipment and spend weeks living in campsites.
I also felt however, that one of the reasons such things are beyond the average man on the street is the cost. For at least a third of the book I was thinking of rich folks buying themselves into the record books, which I didn’t want to feel but couldn’t help it.
I’m not sure the Sherpas get the kudos they should either. They are mentioned and even celebrated at times but at other times they are listed as an addendum to a team list of names plus “some Sherpas.” Some Sherpas that made the whole thing possible and have achieved the same (and usually more) than most of the “hero” climbers that go up there.
Still, it was an interesting and enjoyable read on the whole.
July 25, 2019
Now here's a book that I really enjoyed reading about climbing expeditions as it tells of those who have climbed to the summits of the highest peaks on each continent. Loved the personal comments from each climber. The photos were stupendous - this would be a good book to just look at the pictures; however, the stories are gripping and give insight as to why the climbers climbed, why they went with who they did, and why they chose the routes they did. I recommend this book to be read in several sittings to absorb the comments and beauty of the pictures.
September 14, 2017
See: Seven Summits by Dick Bass for longer version of this story.
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July 19, 2020elibrary
May 15, 2009
I enjoyed the awesome photos, but did not enjoy the writing. Still, for a "bargain" book, well worth the price for pictures.
November 12, 2012
The pictures in this book are beautiful- the sacrifices these climbers go through to achieve climbing the highest peaks are amazing.
December 1, 2014
A hard to put down scary story of the first people to climb the highest mountains on the seven continents. Dick Bass & Frank Wells
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews