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Collages of Rock & Desire: Re-imagining Climbing in Red Rock, Risk in the Andes & Running into Dreams
What makes a risk-taker tick? My memoir, based on over fifty years of journal entries, annotated slides, and discussions with extraordinary people, sheds light on what rebels do—and what they leave in their wake.
My effervescent past consists of rule-breaking which has contributed, overall, to positive change. I became a cutting-edge mountain climber when it was not stylish for women to enter this sport. Together with my husband, we re-imagined technical rock climbing in Red Rock, which initially garnered anger, but later, international appreciation.
Then, my former-Jesuit, anthropologist husband took me as a field side-kick into the pre-globalized Andes, where we encountered near-death experiences at several points along our journey, learning that political and cultural “bumps” can be just as challenging as high altitude summits.
Having survived these gauntlets, I chose motherhood—which turned out to be its own gauntlet—both beautiful and challenging. And raising babies—in an unexpected twist—led to running. Then to running mountains. And then to running very high-risk mountains—leading to altered states of consciousness, glimpsing what it might have been like to be human prior to our modern world.
Finally, I examine “why does risk-taking still matter when we’re old?”
My effervescent past consists of rule-breaking which has contributed, overall, to positive change. I became a cutting-edge mountain climber when it was not stylish for women to enter this sport. Together with my husband, we re-imagined technical rock climbing in Red Rock, which initially garnered anger, but later, international appreciation.
Then, my former-Jesuit, anthropologist husband took me as a field side-kick into the pre-globalized Andes, where we encountered near-death experiences at several points along our journey, learning that political and cultural “bumps” can be just as challenging as high altitude summits.
Having survived these gauntlets, I chose motherhood—which turned out to be its own gauntlet—both beautiful and challenging. And raising babies—in an unexpected twist—led to running. Then to running mountains. And then to running very high-risk mountains—leading to altered states of consciousness, glimpsing what it might have been like to be human prior to our modern world.
Finally, I examine “why does risk-taking still matter when we’re old?”
343 pages, Hardcover
Published November 24, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 19, 2026
Joanne has lived a crazy life, and the adventures span from the mountains of the NorthEast to Yosemite to Bolivia and of course to Red Rocks in Vegas. Many of her accomplishments are intense and epic to read, such as the solo on the Direct South Buttress of Mount Moran. I do wish there was more elaboration on her relationship with Jorge in her later life, maybe it is too personal or outside the scope of what is primarily an adventure book, but there is definitely a lot to pick up on if you read between the lines.
February 13, 2026
very inspiring and incredible stories
August 11, 2026
A must read for any climber who’s heard of Red Rocks, and anyone else who wants a guide to a truly adventurous life! Thank you Joanne for this wonderful memoir.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews