Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World

by Michael Finkel

Boldly going where few others have gone before, Michael Finkel has spent a dozen winters journeying across six continents in order to write about the wonders and eccentricities of the world's snowy regions. In this collection of his finest work-part seat-of-the-pants adventure, part cultural exploration, and peppered throughout with humor and insight-Finkel takes the reader from the underside of an avalanche to the summit of Kilimanjaro. He partners with a gang of Kazak herdsmen in the remote peaks of China; he launches down the slopes of Iran as he learns about the Ayatollahs' Byzantine skiing rules; he goes through the torturous Marine Corps mountain warfare training; and he takes on New York City on cross-country skis.

With rare skill and insight, Finkel vividly recreates the thrill of flying off an Olympic ski jump in Lake Placid, the excitement of gliding through virgin snows on a remote Alaskan peak, and the exhilaration of taking off into the unexplored mountains of interior Greenland. In turn, ALPINE CIRCUS becomes the adventurous ride of a lifetime, a tour through a unique world with a unique guide that is sure to thrill both armchair travelers and Arctic explorers.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Michael Finkel is the author of "The Art Thief," "The Stranger in the Woods," and "True Story," which was adapted into a 2015 motion picture. He has reported from more than 50 countries and written for National Geographic, GQ, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine. He lives with his family in northern Utah.

Reviews

[Samichtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

His lore is so insane that there’s even a movie about him in a completely different subject! 👁️👄👁️

Super funny, immature at times, and reasonable when it counts- tons of his skiing trips are once in a lifetime like in Iran, Tanzania, Alaska, Kazakhstan, and the US’s smallest resort in upstate New York, Four Seasons golf and ski. ⛷️Apparently they’re doing just fine business-wise and have skyrocketed their prices since your publicity! 😹

The skiers in Alaska eating Doritos and 7-Up as their “lunch”… some things never change! 😹

[Corey Benov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool stories of an intrepid traveler’s escapades in winter around the globe. I should write a book like this

[Kristen Pieski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worst cover art ever. Otherwise, I enjoyed the SHIT out of this book.