To the Top of the World: Challenges in the Himalaya and Karakoram

by Reinhold Messner

A selection of Reinhold Messner's most powerful writings and a compendium of his major exhibitions to the world's foremost mountains. It covers his challenges on K2, Gasherbrum and Nanga Parbat and his epic ascent of Everest in 1978 without the aid of oxygen.

Genres: Mountaineering, Adventure, Travel, Climbing

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Reinhold Messner (born September 17, 1944) is an Italian mountaineer and explorer from South Tyrol, often cited as the greatest mountain climber of all time. He is renowned for making the first solo ascents of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and for being the first climber to ascend all fourteen "eight-thousanders" (peaks over 8,000 metres above sea level). He is the author of at least 63 books (in German, 1970–2006), many of which have been translated into other languages.

Reviews

[Amy]

Reads like a collection of essays. Reinhold Messner's greatest hits and various ponderings. Lots of excellent description and imagery. Makes you wonder what it would be like to go up there and leave a part of yourself on a mountain.

[Patricia Comeford]

There is no question that Reinhold Messner's mountaineering achievements are impressive. His descriptions of his experiences let you feel like you are experiencing these high altitude climbs along with him. The photographs are absolutely beautiful, and the paintings by Jean-Georges Inca are quite amazing!

[Christopher Frewin]

Simply unbelievable... this book has set off an irreversible urge to hike an 8000m mountain

[Jonas]

Großartiger Bergsteiger, anstrengender Erzähler. Teilweise ein Krampf zu lesen. Bilder sind aber top! Daher 2/5 Sternen.

[Chaos]

Legend!