Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire

by Nicholas Howe

Among the most beautiful and deadly mountains in the world, Mount Washington has challenged adventurers for centuries with its severe weather. From the days when gentlefolk ascended the heights in hoop skirts and wool suits to today’s high-tech assaults on wintry summits, this book offers extensive and intimate profiles of people who found trouble on New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, from the nineteenth century through the present day.
Recognized by the Boston Globe as one of the 100 Essential New England Books, the first edition of Not Without Peril garnered acclaim from the Banff Mountain Book Festival for its gripping tales of exploration and tragedy. This tenth anniversary edition includes a new afterword from author Nicholas Howe, who offers a personal account of an evening spent at the Mount Washington Observatory while 160-mile-per-hour winds raged outside.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Adventure, Nature, Outdoors, Mountaineering, Travel

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about climbing the Presendential Range mountains in New Hampshire.

[Steve Troutman · Rating 4 out of 5]

STOP. The area ahead has the worst weather in America. Many have died there from exposure even in the Summer. Turn back now if the weather is bad.

ATTENTION. Try this trail only if you're in top physical condition, well clothed, and carrying extra clothing and food. Many have died above timberline from exposure. Turn back at the first sign of bad weather.

I can't say these are the most welcoming signs to a trail. Nonetheless, they're real warning signs you'll find in the White Mountains. They're there for a reason and if that reason is not understood or respected, trouble can ensue in the blink of an eye. Given the accessibility to these mountains paired with the erratic and ferocious weather that is often experienced above the low tree line, many people have lost their lives in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains.

While the range offers more than most outdoor adventurers could ask for - steep terrain, good climbing and skiing, amazing views, extremely low tree lines due to the severity of the weather, and much more, it can also be quite sneaky. The unassuming visitor can easily mistaken the weather conditions in the valley for the conditions above tree line. Thus, they prepare their gear based on faulty logic. When even in the summer months you can find yourself in 100+ mph winds and sub-freezing temperatures, the going can be beyond tough for even those who are well prepared.

Make no mistake, for what they lack in altitude they more than make up for in danger. For decades the summit of Mt. Washington held the land wind speed record of 231 miles per hour. The convergence of multiple jet stream patterns makes for one of the most unpredictable and volatile weather patterns in the world.

I've been going to the Presidentials for six years now. Thankfully I'm of the type who likes to research places, people and things before I experience them. It's not difficult to find accounts of the tragedies and hardships experienced on this mountain range. With the Internet and all, you can even seek out experienced climbers who will share their advice for how to safely navigate this territory.

I also spent a lot of time in the woods and on the hills of Pennsylvania in the winter months, which can be downright cold themselves. In other words, I did my homework and eased into progressively more challenging hikes and situations.

In all of my years in the Whites, I've only had one misadventure. Without going into detail, I'm sure if I hadn't been prepared in terms of gear and conditioning, the outcome would have been much different. Make no mistake though, on a number of occasions I've found myself smack dab in the middle of 100+ mph winds mixed with sleet and snow. In those sorts of conditions you learn very quickly just how inconsequential you are in the grand scheme of things.

Having my experiences in these mountains, it was a no brainer to give Howe's "Now Without Peril" a read. I wanted to hear about the trouble others found themselves in and possibly learn from their mistakes. The lessons are many and the most notable are:

- Know your surroundings and how to get down if you must.

- The mountains will be there for as long as you live. Remember this when deciding whether you should turn back or not.

- Delay departure if the weather forecast isn't promising.

- The tree line is your safety net - best make it there by nightfall in most situations involving weather.

- Know your hiking/climbing partners. Don't take deconditioned people up there.

- Don't leave your partners unless it's a last resort.

What surprised me was the level of detail this book went into regarding the layout of the land, the rescue efforts, and the history. Which only makes sense - unlike other misadventure books dealing with mountaineering, Howe wasn't a member of these parties who ran into trouble. Rather he's someone who has friends and family who've lived and worked in the area for many years. He's spent a lot of time in the mountains himself and he even took part of a recovery. He was able to draw on his own experiences as well as the experiences of many of the folks in his "community" to piece together a story of the Presidentials.

If you're looking for detailed accounts of the sufferings these unfortunate people dealt with, this isn't the book for you. If you're in love with the area that is the Presidential Range though, you'll be amazed by the detailed evolution of mountain life and hiking Howe presents.

[Ben Goodridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mount Washington has always unnerved me. I'm a day hiker at best; an afternoon hiker, really, and I've rarely been on a hike where one needs to pack a lunch, let alone thirty pounds of survival gear. God knows I've heard enough harsh warnings about the fate of careless hikers in the Presidentials. One does not merely walk into Mordor, either.

And yet, Mt. Doom is RIGHT THERE. I swear it's taunting me. Three hours' driving from this spot would put me at the top. I've been up there like sixteen times and the weather at the top has been invariably clement every time. Pack your gear, leave a note, what's WRONG with you?

The accounts of hikers are no help. The authorities are fulsome to the point of paranoia with the warnings - careless hikers can and do die, and even careful hikers aren't immortal. "Unpredictable" takes on new and exciting dimensions above the treeline. But ask for a personal account, and you get indications that these mountains can be scaled on a pogo stick in your underpants. These accounts are also given by people who are fit. "Oh, sure, I scaled the Tuckerman's Ravine trail yesterday, and today I thought I might take the Crawford Path, and tomorrow I plan to hike the entire Pemigewasset Wilderness Trail. So what are you doing with your Labor Day weekend?" Of course they think the trails are easy - they got the legs for it.

Oddly enough, some of this dilemma is inherent in this book, "Not Without Peril." While the tourists in these accounts of Presidential Range disasters soldier on in the face of diminishing conditions until their bodies or souls give out, their rescuers seem to scamper up and down the same mountain trails like squirrels on an oak tree. "What's that? You've just hiked six miles and the wind is 200 miles an hour and the temperature is six below and the snow is thirty feet deep and you can't go on? Well, I'll just scamper down to the closest AMC hut and come back with thirty rescuers and a litter in half an hour." The employees of the forest service move with astonishing alacrity over terrain that is literally killing the visitors.

It's not a perfect demarcation - the rescuers don't take stupid risks, and there are a couple of accounts where someone's dying on the mountain and the rescue team, completely understandably, chooses not to go fetch him, painful as that decision may be. Some rescuers do have a really, really hard time of it, and nobody wants to lose six rescuers to salvage a hiker already beyond medical attention. Also, if I hiked the Glen Boulder Trail thirty times a year, I'd probably be pretty familiar with it.

While reading, I pulled out my own AMC White Mountain maps, which are slightly better than the topo squares the book uses, if for no other reason than to get a sense of scale. The accounts kept mentioning mountains that weren't Washington, and my entire sense of the area is built around the big one in the middle.

The result was though the body count of this book mounted higher, I only wanted to visit the area more, this time as a pedestrian. God knows why; this book should have scared the hell out of me. Why in the world would I want to climb this maneater? Does the author really make the landscape that appealing? I climbed Katahdin by my fingernails. Admittedly, three times, but still...

So I sit here with the book in my hand surrounded by AMC maps, realizing that I haven't done much hiking this season. And the White Mountains are, after all, right there...

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this story were truly riveting and unforgettable and other parts were just boring. I felt if the book had been shorter it would have held my attention more.

[Brian Mahoney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book goes into great detail on many (mis) adventures in the Presidential mountain range. Probably excellent for the trail enthusiast or those who have spent a lot of time in the area- but for the casual reader a bit much. I found the tales mildly interesting, but a bit to personal and geared towards the people who lived it.

Nonfiction.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The Presidential Range is amazing, but dangerous. My husband and I hiked Mount Washington on a whim and ran into -22 degree weather on August 25th. This book rings true and gets across the need to respect the Mountain, but it also introduces the majesty of this elevation. Howe writes with confidence and expertise about the range and I cannot wait to go hike here again!

[Erin Brenner]

Thinking about hiking Mt. Washington in the middle of summer with just a daypack and some trekking poles?

DON'T.

Spend some time reading just a few of the true stories, and you'll soon learn why hiking the Presidential Range should be taken seriously at all times.

Nicholas Howe recounts heartbreaking deaths in these mountains--and an incredible generosity of local volunteers who will go out in all kinds of weather to help those in trouble. Without these volunteers, many people would not survive their misadventures. I am even more grateful for them after reading this book.

All the accidents Howe shares (not all are fatalities, but most are) start with one miscalculation or error, something each of us is capable of. It might be a lack of preparedness, a miscalculation of time or ability or weather, or just plain stubbornness to push on when it would be lifesaving to turn back.

In each section we meet people like ourselves, wanting adventure or just doing their job, in this near-pristine wild area. We get to know them and feel their loss, all in relatively few words.

If you want to know about the realities of hiking and mountain climbing or more about the history of the Presidential Range, this is a great choice. And if you do go out there (and I hope you do--these are fantastic mountains!), you'll have some context for how to keep yourself safe while having fun.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone hiking or thinking about hiking in the White Mountains should read this book. It's very fact-based, but engaging, and not morbidly told though it's subject matter is ultimately very sad. Respect for nature's awesome power is essential. I hiked Mount Washington two years ago on a day when the conditions were questionable. I've been elated over this feat, particularly because it was my first hike ever, but this book scared the stuffing out of me by laying bare what could happen. It's a great read.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book however I did not finish it. It gives a good history lesson of how the trails were started on mt Washington and the different huts and houses scattered on the mt range. After getting done with 2/3rds of it I lost interest in how the different people ultimately came to their demise. It gives me a great appreciation of just how quick the weather can change up there, most of the deaths seemed to happen in the warmer months.

[Samantha Jewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! A must read for anyone who enjoys hiking. Safety first!

[Jake Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable, and a good read for anyone interested in the history of the White Mountains and wilderness exploration in general. I was surprised by the thoroughness of the research into each individual story, and impressed by the authors ability to tell the story of the region through so many seemingly isolated incidents. From the first summit of Mt. Washington, to the building of the cog railroad, to the development of radio and adoption of modern technology, this book provides a glimpse into the hidden history of the Presidential mountain range. It should be a staple of the bookshelf or coffee table of any New England outdoorsman.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started this back in the early summer. Wanted more perspective before hiking Washington. I read about half and then sat it aside. Hiked up Washington successfully back in August. Read some more of this book in September and finished in about a month ago or so. (I’ve gotten so lazy with updating my account) The book is the gold standard for white mountain writing.

I like Ty Gagnes books a little more and can’t wait to get my hands on his newest.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book about a ghastly subject- dying of exposure on Mt. Washington. I enjoyed the tales and definitely learned some important survival skills!

[Kate Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing to follow at times but still enjoyable if you’re into the history of the white mountains. Frustrating that the photo captions gave away the endings of some of the stories prematurely.

[Stephen Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read so many stories over the years of mishaps in the mountains in NH. Many common themes ran through each instance, and although the writing was a little dry at times I found it an enjoyable read nonetheless.

[Jesse R Kloos · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Not Without Peril," Nicholas Howe takes readers on a journey through the history of the Presidential Range, blending research with personal narratives. The author offers not just stories of endurance and survival but also an understanding of the range's allure and dangers (of both, I am personally familiar).

The book stands out for its depth of detail and Howe's own experiences, which provide authenticity and a unique perspective. His ability to retrace and verify historical accounts adds a layer of investigative rigor, making "Not Without Peril" a must-read for anyone interested in the White Mountains or who are fascinated by the intertwining of human ambition with nature's majesty.

[Andrea Quigley Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a library book - I've been wanting to read it for a couple of years. I'm a novice hiker (3 years of experience) who hikes in the Whites and almost every time I did research on a 4000 footer, someone would recommend this book. I'm a nervous hiker as it is - I probably don't need more reminders of the risks one can encounter while several miles from civilization but since I like to be prepared with as much information as possible (to reduce my anxiety), I decided to read it anyhow.

The subject matter is bleak - stories of 22 hikers, ice climbers and skiers who went into the Presidential range between 1849 - 1994 that didn't end well. Most of these stories are about their deaths (the book includes an appendix that lists the 128 people who have died on Mt Washington during that time period) . Only one or two of the stories are about people who survived their horrific experience. Many of these adventure seekers had plenty of experience, and were well prepared for their outing but something went awry, misreading a map or underestimating the severe weather or the distance needed to travel to protection. Some of these stories are about people who were woefully unprepared for their undertaking - not bringing any food with them or getting enough sleep, inadequate clothing, no hiking experience, not turning around at the first sign of bad weather or hiking with someone who would leave them behind in order to achieve the goal they set. And some were just pure, sad totally unexpected accident.

The stories are for the most part well written and incredibly detailed, maps of key points in their tragedy are included in each story so you can get an understanding of the difficult decisions they had to make. Also included are some of the changes that the AMC, Forest Service and other White Mountains entities made in the aftermath of each tragedy - things that shaped what we expect of those using the White Mountain National Forest today, how Search and Rescue operates. Made very clear also are the sometimes incredibly difficult decisions people have to make when things go bad out there -both from a hiker's viewpoint and from that of someone involved in a rescue operation.

There are some dry parts of the book - chapters that spent a few too many pages describing the topography of a certain part of Mt Washington in such great detail that I'd forget which climber's story I was reading by the time the story came back to it. But I think the level of detail given is due to the author's close relationship with the Whites and the people who live their lives up there. Nicholas Howe is able to describe the topography like most of us would describe a person we've known all our lives - with great ease.

As I mentioned earlier - the book is depressing subject matter, obviously not for everyone, but I'm glad to have read it and will keep these stories in the back of my mind when hiking in the future. I agree with others who constantly recommend it to new hikers - it's important to have an idea of the kinds of things that could go wrong that seem unlikely to the experienced (like a late August unrelenting snow storm).

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Ty Gagne’s two accounts of White Mountains hiking incidents, Goodreads mentioned this book as another “must read” for White Mountains hikers. However, I found the collection of stories to be poorly written. The author didn’t seem to have a specific goal with the book except to share his own early memories and give praise to his friends or people he admired. There were also some aspects in his stories that seemed a bit farfetched to me. If you are a devout lover of the White Mountains like I am, you might be interested in picking this up. Even so, it’s still a slog to get through.

[KELLY HIRTLE · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read and certainly follows the topic- death and hazards of climbing a mountain range. I enjoyed the stories of those seeking adventure and especially the history of how the support and rescue systems around Mt. Washington grew over time.

The author was a bit too preoccupied with expounding his own family greatness and connections to the “important” people of the day and the mountains development. I found it came off as boastful, classist and boring. I skimmed over quite a chunk to get back to the misadventures of others. No doubt he is well experienced in the region. He seemed to want to point it out very often.

[Dereka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perversely I have always loved reading about accidents-- this book was especially interesting because it included a short description of an event on Mt. Washington involving my father. Caught in a storm he and another man survived in a small refuge hut for three days without food..."both the observers (what they called men who worked at the observatory) and the emergency shelters worked exactly as they were meant to"

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone familiar with the White Mountains of New Hampshire, this book is a great collection of unhappy endings and cautionary tales from centuries of hikes in the Presidential Range. A casual read gets a bit bogged down by the geographical detail into which Howe dives, but if you should ever choose to recreate one of these tragic hikes you would be able to chart its course quite precisely. A good read for hikers!

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering storytelling. Compelling history and information about hiking this area, offering plenty to learn about HOW to hike in this area. And how not.

[Andrew Szalay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Howe grew up and around the Presidential Range of New Hampshire with the tallest peak, the Mount Washington, within view of his family’s first home. He hiked extensively, served as a trail and hut steward, and participated in some rescue efforts. In his book, Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire (2009, 2nd ed.,) Howe explains how the mountain trails have changed yet the mountain itself and the people who climbed it have not.

Starting with a grand sentence to lead his book, Howe beckons us to read on: “Mountains were invented in the 19th Century.” We learn about exploration in England’s land in North America and the carriage road up the summit of Mount Washington. We read about Frederick Strickland, an Englishman scientist, who has a tragic mishap in 1849. We follow enthusiastic mountain climbers, and evaluate their situations in 1855, 1886, 1900, 1912, the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1950s, 1986, and the deadly 1994 season.

Often the demises of hikers lost were due simply because they were unprepared. They were without appropriate clothes, nutrition, and navigation. Many died mere meters away from shelter they could not locate due to snow, wind, rain, fog, or the dark. I feel like several disaster stories (including Simon Joseph’s and Joe Caggiano’s) start out “three friends from Boston decided to go climb in the Presidential Range…”

Howe introduced me to Jesse Whitehead. She was the daughter of Alfred North Whitehead, a British-born Harvard philosopher, and she was a scholar of ancient Arabic languages that maintained a prominent place in Boston’s society. Well, she was also a hiker, skier, and a serious climber “long before anyone thought such a calling would include women,” as Howe explained her pioneering ways. Whitehead, with three men, made the first ascent of the Pinnacle in Mount Washington’s Huntington Ravine. Later, she climbed in the Alps, including the an attempt on the Matterhorn. But it was another attempt in Mount Washington’s other major eastern ravine, Tuckerman’s Ravine, that Whitehead makes Howe’s book. She and her partner, a less experienced gentleman, fell from a ghastly height. Howe traces the accident and the rescue (not a recovery) that includes Bradford Washburn, which almost seemed like a cameo in the story.

Howe’s treatment of these stories combine the enthusiasm we share for mountain adventure and is simultaneously clinical enough before leaving the reader sad. After the accident, Howe starts to evaluate the situation for lessons and explains the search and rescue process and tells stories from their perspective with as much ferver as going into the range. Each chapter I read I went with the traveler Howe profiled, full well knowing it wouldn’t end well, and they examined the maps and mistskes by flipping pages back and forth. I’m grateful to Howe and the subjects, like Joseph amd Caggiano, for their anecdotes as I prepare better my next hike.

Howe also taught me about the early visitors approach to the Presidential Range and Mount Washington in particular. They believed the mountain would largely be ascended by horseback, which was why the carriage road and the halfway house was built. The observatory on the summit was not the only purpose. In fact, other early routes attempted to rise up via gradual grades much longer than our uphill trails we rely on today.

I was drawn to reading Howe’s book because of David Roberts’ books about his own adventures with the Harvard Mountaineering Club and retelling of stories of fellow-Harvard alumni Bradford Washburn. Those tales taught me about the significance of climbing Mount Washington, in spite of its relatively low elevation of 1,918 m/6,288 ft. I learned that it was not only the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, but it was also a cold, windy place that was the best “local” training for Alaska and beyond.

I climbed it in 2002 in a round-about way via the Ammonoosuc Trail from the West. I was an experienced hiker from dozens of trips up the Adirondack 46rs, but I didn’t have more than a simple map for directions. I was surprised by many things, from the large lodge known as the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, that I was able to easily make it to the summit of Mount Monroe by a short detour, and that the bald rock was not in fact relatively smooth like the Adirondack peaks but rather enormous boulders evenly spread out; stumbling could easily mean a twisted ankle. I knew the summit had a large weather station and a cog rail train and auto road brought tourists, but it was weird summit experience after walking alone (with joy and meditation) for hours. It’s only taken on a more significant role in my imagination.

Howe’s book is worth reading if you frequent the Presidential Range or if you hike and scramble over peaks often. The anecdotes and historical tidbits, along with practical takeaways for the trail, are valuable and downright charming.

This review was originally published on SuburbanMountaineer.com

[SB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I set out to read this book as research. At the time, I was planning to write a story of my own that was set in the White Mountains, the protagonist an experienced hiker of the Presidential Range. I ended up tabling that story idea, but I had already purchased the book and wanted to read it nonetheless.

Full disclosure: I am not a hiker. I’m a scaredy-cat who avoids activities that one might say are, well, not without peril. I can distinctly recall two hikes I’ve been on in my life. The first was a mild trek in California, the only difficulty of which was a steep hill that I decided against my better judgment to climb to impress my girlfriend, an avid hiker, in the very early days of our relationship. I over-exerted myself and promptly vomited atop the hill. (And thankfully, my girlfriend kept going out with me afterwards.)

The second hike, however, was much more dangerous. It was a trek through a Hawaiian bamboo forest, involving scrambling, climbing, uneven terrain, mud, loose rocks, and, at the end, swimming several hundred yards in a river. It was objectively too dangerous and too strenuous for someone as inexperienced as me and the majority of my party. The only reason we did not encounter serious danger was because two people with us had hiked it before and were in good enough physical condition to help us down some perilous descents. I finished the hike sore, a little dehydrated, and with tender ankles from the uneven rocks. We later found out that someone died on the trail that same day.

That story is child’s play compared to the tales Howe shares from the Presidential Range. The fatal misadventures in this book are handled with a requisite degree of reverence, cautionary tales rather than lurid exploitation of tragedy. The book is at its most riveting when it tells these stories, and I found myself tearing through these pages far more than the asides about the landscape or Howe’s personal connection to the White Mountains. Nevertheless, Howe’s explanation of the landscape is extremely detailed, and it’s hard not to appreciate the level of research put into this book. My last complaint is a petty one - so many comma splices, my number one grammatical pet peeve! - but I don’t want to harp on the writing too much, because it’s not meant to be a literary masterpiece. It’s fairly workmanlike and does the job, which is all it needs to do to be effective.

Even as someone who has never and may never hiked the Whites, this was a truly enjoyable read. My motivations for reading this books were admittedly a little odd, but I’m still glad I picked it up.

[bob walenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Not Without Peril " is a collection of stories/folklore/history about mountain climbing in the Presidential Range, more specifically ON Mt Washington itself. It describes many of the fatal events since before the Civil War right to the present day. The book was rich with photographs and detailed maps, which though challenging to read, were still helpful in making the events more clear and real.

Never having climbed Mt Washington and not being familiar with the names and places, the book was slow going for me. It was like studying a textbook at times. Not without reward, however, as the difficult maps and supporting pictures did help, particularly in the more recent stories. If anything I wish there had been even more maps, with a larger perspective, in addition to the detailed views. There is an "OTHER WORLDLINESS" about the Presidential Range, where storm winds can easily and often blow in the 120-160 MPH range, temps can drop to -60 degrees F and fog and storms routinely materialize almost out of nowhere, with little warning.

Back in the 19th Century tragedies were mostly caused by a lack of equipment and understanding of the mountain and climatology. In the 20th Century, more and more tragedies were caused by arrogance, poor decision making, bad luck and crucial and an often fatal lack of common sense. The book deserves rave reviews for describing the issues and realities of mountain rescues, from inception to the higher tech present day. Bottom line is always that even rescuers are at risk of being killed, and there are occasional climbers who are unprepared, unknowledgeable and just plain stupid about the risks they take for themselves and then pass on to others who might try to help them.

It was an amazing book, filled with detailed information and gripping stories. It was a tough read, and unless the reader is motivated might be too much for anyone just looking for simple tales of mountain climbing. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who hikes the Presidential Range or attempts to climb any of the higher peaks there. Those mountains are magical and deadly and beautiful, and there is quite literally no place on Earth Quite Like MT Washington.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to go up to the Whites for at least a few days every summer, and although the threat of death was always assumed it was not something I remember being discussed outright. I simply do not remember hearing many stories of "misadventures" (as this book puts it) among guides, other hikers hanging around the huts, or even on plaques/memorials. And I was at the age that those sorts of stories would have left a lasting impression on me.

So I was excited to come across Not Without Peril among my dad's library last summer. I thought this would be a revealing look at some fascinatingly morose moments in the history of humans' relationship with this range. Although obviously historically accurate, I found this account to be quite dry overall and not a very enjoyable read. The later chapters - which naturally are more fleshed out, as there are direct accounts from survivors/rescuers - are much, much more enjoyable than those in the first half of the book; in fact, I wish Howe had written a more personal account, as he obviously committed most of his life to hiking and working in these mountains and probably has a trove of stories to pass along, from his own experience and from those he worked with. In the end, I was left with a better understanding of how quickly things can go wrong on those trails, but I'd be hard-pressed if anyone ever asked me to share a detailed summary of any of these stories.

Also - I guess this was published by the AMC, which is apparently based in Boston. Maybe not still a literary/publishing capital, but I find it hard to believe they couldn't find a better editor for this. I lost count of how many typos and obvious grammatical errors were littered throughout this book - not quite enough to make it unreadable, but enough to make it frustrating at how sloppy it seemed.

[Jeff Budds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some writers are natural story tellers. Others are skilled researchers. And a few simply jot down on paper what they recall in life. In Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire, Nicholas Howe combines elements of all three approaches, weaving a collection of tragic incidents into a coherent, sobering history of mountaineering in the White Mountains.

A former journalist, Howe is also a skilled story teller. In fact, nobody else can chronicle the events the way that Howe does, having lived in Northern New Hampshire for most of his adult life. He also possesses a very deep understanding of the labyrinth trail system that interlaces Mount Washington. (Although the book offers ample illustrations, I suggest having a good topo map handy for those who really want to gain greater insight.) He has hiked them numerous times and seems to know every rock and root. He even blends family history into some of the events.

Despite the tragic subject matter, Howe’s wit is sprinkled throughout the narrative. There is nothing humorous in his prose, yet Howe still manages to ease his grim subject with what we all experience in real life; he occasionally takes a step back and provides the reader with a smile.

Almost every chapter is built around a specific incident. Howe begins these sections with a brief bit of history that he then uses to springboard the reader into a particular misadventure. Having worked as a young man at one of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts and having served on a search and rescue team, he takes a more judgmental approach to some of mishaps than some other authors who stand back and simply lay out the events.

When first published in 2009, Howe reported 140 deaths; as of June 2025, the Presidential Range has claimed 176 dead or missing. Obviously, we outdoors types still have a lot to learn. Reading this Not Without Peril prior to your next adventure might help.

[Eddie Maybury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at the summit of Mount Washington. Experiencing the highest of the White Mountains gave me a living visual of these misadventures. It was an entirely different nonfiction experience having been there. My mother climbed this when she was 18, and it's incredible to peek into the history of the beautiful yet unyielding environment she conquered.

Howe is probably the most detailed writer I've ever read. This plays out excellently during the action of each misadventure, but substantially drags out the boring parts. I almost know each person's entire life story prior to their climbing timeline. An entire page of one's experiences in college could be summed up in a few sentences to make the same point. For example; "He was very stubborn and went at his own pace. Waiting on others never crossed his mind." is a theme leading into the behavior and decisions of one climber. I didn't need his upbringing to understand he was dangerous to follow.

Simultaneously, the precision of Howe's writing is exceptional at the critical points of each misadventure. Readers were aware of multiple accounts on a rescue, sometimes even including accounts of the victims. The occasional pictures also add a nice touch. It's humbling to see a clear day picture of how close some were to shelter at their final resting places.

One day, I'd like to hike the same summit path my mother completed.

[Donald Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In keeping with my recent reading list of books about White Mountains accidents and tragedies, this book highlights some of the higher profile deaths that have occurred in and around the Presidential Ridge of the White Mountains. Much of the focus surrounds Mount Washington, all 6,288 feet of it and home to the world’s worst weather. Mount Wash is the pinnacle of the Presi Ridge, with the mountains to the north of it (Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison) getting disproportionately more attention in the book than those to its south (Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson, and Webster) because the northern Presidentials are higher and more prone, orographically, to extreme weather.

The book was first published in 2000, so its incidents all predate Where You’ll Find Me and its geographic focus excludes the site of The Last Traverse, completely avoiding reporting on the same accidents across the three books. It also is the work of Nicholas Howe, who was not the author of the other two books.

While the other two books were grippingly focused on the events that led to two tragic crises that happened in the high elevations of the WMNF, this book, while also covering Presi tragedies, provides a rich tapestry of White Mountains history dating back to the 1800s. This background on its own is worth the price of admission!

Highly recommend.

[Annalyn Bachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you fall into the really niche category of outdoor enthusiast/ White Mountain history buff, this is the book for you! I read it in one sitting, and was especially captivated by all the historical knowledge of the area. On the surface, this book is about lethal mishaps in the White Mountains; however, you'll also learn about the evolution of outdoor culture, search and rescue, and the intricate system of huts and trails. I am from the region, so I found myself accompanying this book with a map to look up all the historical places mentioned that I was not familiar with. In addition to this, although many of the stories are dated at this point (the last mishaps being in 1994), the lessons from them are timeless. As a hiker of the Whites, it was a potent reminder of how dangerous and unpredictable the weather can be. With Covid, more and more people have started frequenting the trails. Along with this, I've seen more headlines about mishaps. These lessons are more important now than ever.