Complete: Memories of a Climb

by Michael French, Leah Arruda (Editor)

One man's personal account of the first alpine-style ascent of the Messner Route on the South Face of Aconcagua.
In early 1980, three men set out to summit the highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere - Argentina's Aconcagua, standing at 22,838 feet. The trio would ascend via the Messner Route on the South Face, a route that had been climbed before, once, but never alpine style - no oxygen, no fixed ropes, no support team...just three men, carrying all their own gear, equipment and food. Aconcagua is a challenging mountain with unpredictable weather, falling rock and avalanches. The author and his climbing partners experienced all of that and more. In this personal account of his life-changing experience, Michael French brings the reader along into the world of those few weeks on the mountain, complete with highs and lows, loss and bittersweet triumph.

198 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2022

About the author

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Michael French - Photography

Michael French - Poetry

Michael R. French - Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent account of something impressive and stress-inducing (for us mere mortals). I happen to be friends with the author, and Michael is as good with a sailboat as he is climbing a mountain. I’m honored to know him, even more after reading his story!