Escape Routes: Further Adventure Writings of David Roberts

by David Roberts

A collection of the author's favorite twenty adventure stories from the last eleven years

Genres: Nonfiction

267 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
See this thread for more information.

David Roberts is the award-winning author of twenty-nine books about mountaineering, exploration, and anthropology. His most recent publication, Alone on the Wall, was written with world-class rock climber Alex Honnold, whose historic feats were featured in the film Free Solo.

Reviews

[Jean Dupenloup · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Roberts is and always will be my favorite adventure and climbing author.

His accomplishments are prolific: several new alpine routes on Alaska’s meanest peaks, and a plethora of genre-defining climbing books.

Many point to him as the dean of American climbing literature.

The fact he has achieved so much in the realms of both body and mind are a testament to his character.

This particular book is a fine collection of his adventure writings, a collection of essays as diverse as they are entertaining.

Mr. Roberts has spent the past few years dealing with a serious cancer. I dearly hope that irksome, ugly disease will have the good taste to stop persecuting one of the best living littérateurs. My best wishes to him, and here’s to more of his books!

[Kasey Lawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Tellem phenomenon goes beyond yes or no, to the heart of the human condition. That we made no real dent in the enigma only deepens it. We had ventured into the unknown, coming home not with answers so much as with a renewed sense of wonder. What more can one ask from a journey?”

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly entertaining but not as good as others I’ve read. Really enjoyed some of the stories. A lot were average.

[Rory Eisele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this compilation of Robert's work.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection, the first of David Roberts writing I have picked up. Krakauer pales in comparison, Eiger Dreams being an easy comparison that falls way short of this work. Roberts has a wide range of interests in outdoor activities, locations, and outdoor philosophy. I can honestly say I enjoyed every piece in this collection, feeling richer on many different levels for having read about his various escapades. The only reason this falls short of the coveted five stars is that many of the pieces were clearly articles written for magazines with sometimes hastily pulled together endings and the need for some sort of decisive conclusion in each work. Still, it was a high quality collection and has inspired me to seek out more of his writing. Solid 4 stars.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran out of Mark Jenkins books. Fortunately, I've discovered David Roberts. He's an old climbing writer who taught Jon Krauker to climb. David has gotten disenchanted with climbing in recent years and has turned his attentions to other adventures ~ particularly those with a historical interest. I grew weary of his archeological expeditions, but I loved the trip he took through the Dolomites examining the region's terrible history during World War 1. I also loved hearing about the fishing/climbing trip he took with his dad to the Brooks Range in Alaska where the sun never sets in the summer. The Harvard Climbing Club also sounded like a lot of fun. Great read all around.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories published in magazines,
most were boringggggggggg..

Maybe 3 chapters worth reading, nothing like Mountain of my fear.

Does make the interesting comment that
"the fad of biking on slickrock ... sport climbing & parasailing are
part of the modern vogue of reducing wilderness travel to a technical game."
How true!
And then the associated snobbery of doing "it"
in a more elegant manner than someone else.

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might not count as moutain woe, although there are a few good climbing stories. The best of the bunch don't really involve climbing (see "Biking Through Tiananmen"). Well worth it, even though it took me weeks to read for some reason.