Aconcagua Map  •  Cordee 2002 •  MAP This excellent folded map, based on four Argentine military survey sheets, was updated in 2002 by Servei General d'Informació de Muntanya. At a scale of 1:50,000, the map features contour lines at 500-meter intervals, the heights of peaks, along with the location of huts, roads, routes, glaciers and ridges. (AND41, $13.95)
Aconcagua, A Climbing Guide  •  R.J. Secor  •  Uma Kukathas  •  Crystal Thomas  •  Ralph Hopkins GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A guide to South America's tallest mountain, highlighting 27 different routes to the summit. Aside from the trail descriptions, the authors provide background on the history and ecology of the mountain, tips on preparation and equipment, and all the essential information on local weather, accommodations and attractions. 2nd edition. (AND40, $16.95)
Aconcagua: Summit of the Americas  •  Ed Darack GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  MAP These four black-and-white maps for climbers and trekkers, all packaged in a vinyl pouch, portray the peak and surroundings at various scales, including a map of the climbing routes at 1:46,500, a map of the summit at 1:23,250, and satellite photo-image of the region. Created by Ed Darack, a climber and author. (AND42, $15.00)
The Adirondack Book, A Complete Guide  •  Elizabeth Folwell  •  Annie Stoltie GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES An excellent, locally-produced travel guide mixing history, nature and anecdote with a shipload of up-to-date practical information. It features extensive listings and descriptions of attractions and activities for the outdoor enthusiast. (NYS19, $18.95)
The Adirondacks, A History of America's First Wilderness  •  Paul Schneider HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A breezy and entertaining portrait of the forests, rivers, mountains and lakes that make up a good portion of upstate New York. Attuned to the tricky 150-year-old debate over conservation, Schneider does an admirable job balancing natural history with politics, while not forgetting to tell some great stories. (NYS16, $17.00)
Alive, The Story of the Andes Survivors  •  Piers Paul Read TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES The gripping tale of survival against all odds: a plane crashes in the Andes, all passengers presumed dead. Read tells the story of terrible hardship, bravery and horror with admirable restraint. Most of the passengers, barely teenagers, were members of a rugby team from Uruguay, and the account includes much insight into Uruguayan culture and society. (AND38, $7.99)
Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment, How to Stay Healthy at Altitude  •  Stephen Bezruchka REFERENCE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A pocket reference to both preventing and the treatment of altitude sickness. Bezruchka, a mountaineer, M.D. and wit, includes case studies, a section of frequently asked questions, and simple methods of diagnosis and treatment when things go wrong. Travelers to high altitudes will devour this little book, dedicated "To all those who have died of altitude sickness." (REF02, $8.95)
Annapurna, A Woman's Place  •  Arlene Blum EXPLORATION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 247 PAGES This account of the historic 1978 climb celebrates the first American ascent of Annapurna by a team of 13 women. The climbers were also, notably, the first women to scale any of the world's 8,000 meter-peaks. Two of the women died in the process. This illustrated 20th anniversary edition, with a preface by Maurice Herzog, includes an afterword. Much of the book takes the form of an illustrated journal. (HML30, $16.00)
Annapurna, The Epic Account of a Himalayan Conquest and its Harrowing Aftermath  •  Maurice Herzog EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 314 PAGES • FAVORITE This classic account of the first ascent of an 8,000-meter peak was dictated by expedition leader Herzog from his hospital bed in Paris. It's a gripping story -- and an excellent companion to the best-selling recent book on the Everest disaster, "Into Thin Air." Herzog and his companions originated the now well established practice of using Sherpas and acclimatizing to higher and higher altitudes at a series of base camps. The extraordinary rescue and agonizing return to civilization is all the more powerful for its matter-of-fact tone. The book also includes a glimpse of Ghurka society in Nepal, circa 1950. (HML07, $16.95)
The Canadian Rockies  •  Douglas Leighton NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 112 PAGES This beautiful portrait of the landscapes, wildlife and nature of Banff, Jasper and other parks in the region, featuring 200 oversize color photographs, showcases the best of Douglas Leighton, a naturalist and photographer from the Canadian Rockies. (CND149, $29.95)
The Canadian Rockies Superguide  •  Graeme Pole GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This essential handbook for travelers features color photographs, excellent maps and solid information on places and attractions throughout the Canadian Rockies. Also includes a section devoted to the formation of the Rockies (with diagrams), fascinating sidebars on wildlife and historical figures, and a handy reference chapter with "to-do" lists for Banff, Waterton, Yoho, Jasper and Kootenay. (CND28, $29.95)
The Climb, Tragic Ambitions on Everest  •  Anatoli Boukreev EXPLORATION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES An eyewitness account of the 1996 tragedy on Everest by the Russian mountaineer Boukreev, in part a response to criticism by John Krakauer in the best-selling Into Thin Air regarding climbing safety and ambition. Boukreev, an experienced guide, defends his actions on that day. (HML29, $7.99)
Climbing Everest, Tales of Triumph and Tragedy on the World's Highest Mountain  •  Audrey Salkeld  •  Jennifer Emmett EXPLORATION •  2003 •  HARD COVER • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Six true tales of mountaineering on Everest, for kids 10 and older. Published by National Geographic, it's filled with rare archival photographs. (HML56, $21.00)
The Compact Guide to the Wildflowers of the Rockies  •  Dana Bush FIELD GUIDE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A palm-sized guide featuring watercolor illustrations of 100 species of wildflowers commonly encountered in the Rocky Mountains. Designed for easy use in the field, it classifies the plants according to habitat and elevation, and explains some of their identifying characteristics. (USW10, $7.95)
The Cordillera del Condor Region of Ecuador and Peru  •  Thomas Schulenberg NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 232 PAGES A report of two "Rapid Assessment Program" surveys taken in 1993 and 1994, this book catalogs the biological resources of the lower mountain forests of Ecuador and Peru. With maps and line drawings. (AND16, $17.00)
Crater Lake National Park, A History  •  Rick Harmon HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A short, readable history of Crater Lake by the editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly, published in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the park's formation. (PNW156, $19.95)
Eiger Dreams, Ventures Among Men and Mountains  •  Jon Krakauer EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A collection of some of Krakauer's (Into Thin Air) best journalism, these stories and essays focus on the mindset and determination of world-class mountaineers, including Alpine and Himalayan climbers. These are tales of adventure of the highest sort. (ALP10, $13.95)
Eight Feet in the Andes  •  Dervla Murphy EXPLORATION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 274 PAGES This Irish grandmother has made travel writing something of an industry. She's a gutsy, insightful observer who writes like the wind. In this book, first published in 1983, she and her then-nine-year-old daughter travel 1,300 miles by mule through the Andes on the trail of the conquistadors. (AND07, $15.95)
Eric Shipton, The Six Mountain Travel Books  •  Eric Shipton EXPLORATION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 800 PAGES A wide-ranging collection of six great books on mountain exploration by Eric Shipton, featuring his pioneering expeditions in the Himalayas, East Africa, Central Asia and Patagonia. This 800-page book includes Nandi Devi, Blank on the Map, Upon that Mountain, Mt. Everest Reconnaissance Expedition of 1951, Mountains of Tartary, and Land of Tempest. (EXP12, $38.00)
Everest, A Mountaineering History  •  Walter Unsworth EXPLORATION •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 736 PAGES A classic history of mountaineering, updated through 1998 for this third edition. Unsworth depicts the people, personalities and challenges of Everest expeditions, including an excellent account of the much-ballyhooed expedition by Mallory and Irvine. He covers every major expedition. (NPL38, $45.00)
Everest, Mountain Without Mercy  •  Broughton Coburn NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Spectacularly photographed, this book is an account of the making of the IMAX film on Everest, including an account of the 1996 disaster. (HML20, $24.00)
Everest, the West Ridge  •  Thomas F. Hornbein EXPLORATION •  1980 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES A vivid account of the 1963 American expedition to Everest, a classic of mountain climbing literature. Long thought out of reach, by Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld make a first ascent on the mountain via the spectacular West Ridge, which involved -- among other things -- an emergency bivouac at 28,000-feet. (HML10, $19.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Mount Rainier National Park  •  Heidi Schneider GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 246 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to Mount Rainier National Park gives an overview of wildlife, and advice on navigating the area's terrain. 60 hikes are described in all. (PNW154, $15.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness  •  Bill Schneider GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES In addition to useful trail descriptions, maps and safety techniques, this practical hiking guide to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness gives an overview of the area's natural history, and advice on navigating the area's mountainous terrain. (RKY08, $17.95)
Ghosts of Everest, The Search for Mallory & Irvine  •  Jochen Hemmleb  •  Eric Simonson  •  Larry Johnson EXPLORATION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES You may have seen the pictures. This is one of several accounts of the 1999 expedition to determine the fate of George Mallory, who disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924 (and who may or may not have been the first on Everest 29 years before Norgay and Hillary). Hemmleb, Johnson and Simonson, respected climbers all three and participants in the expedition, contribute to this book as told to hired-hand William Nothdurft. Conrad Anker wrote his own book, "The Lost Explorer (Item no. NPL35)," (HML39, $24.95)
Guide to Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro  •  Iain Allan GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES A pocket guide to mountaineering produced by the Mountain Club of Kenya. It's a comprehensive overview, covering mountain medicine, geology, flora and fauna, and other topics in detail. With climbing routes, maps and photographs. Also of interest to trekkers, the guide is geared for serious mountaineers on one of the Alpine routes. With a fold-out topo map. (EAF68, $33.95)
H.W. Tilman, The Eight Sailing/Mountain-Exploration Books  •  H. W. Tilman EXPLORATION •  1987 •  HARD COVER  • 960 PAGES A dizzying, 900-page omnibus of eight terrific books, all featuring Tilman's adventures aboard the Mischief, his base for exploring the mountains of the Southern Ocean, Patagonia and the Arctic. A wry, cantankerous and entertaining writer (who sailed off from Rio de Janeiro in his 80th year in 1977 never to be seen again), Tilman crafts books that are jammed with information about the places he and his crew visited, including crossing the Patagonian Ice Cap, crossing of Bylot Island and ascent of Big Ben on Heard. This collection includes Mischief in Patagonia, Mischief among the Penguins, Mischief in Greenland, Mostly Mischief, Mischief Goes South, In Mischief's Wake, Ice With Everything, and Triumph and Tribulation. His earlier moountaineering books have been collected in a separate, and equally interesting, volume. (EXP13, $38.00)
Hawaii Volcano Watch, A Pictorial History, 1779-1991  •  J. D. Griggs  •  Taeko Jane Takahashi  •  Thomas L. Wright NATURAL HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A colorful and comprehensive introduction to Hawaii's shield volcanoes and the geologic history of the archipelago. The authors shed light on the cultural history of the volcanoes, from their significance to the native islanders to sketches of individuals who have effected policies and attitudes towards the volcanoes themselves. With illustrations, maps, paintings, and photos. (HWI180, $24.95)
High Adventure  •  Sir Edmund Hillary EXPLORATION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 245 PAGES A classic of 20th-century mountaineering, this 50th anniversary edition of young Hillary's original account of his historic ascent of Everest, written the heady days after the celebrated climb, includes a new preface by the author. With nimble words and a straightforward style, New Zealand mountaineering legend Hillary recollects the bravery and frustration, the agony and glory that marked his Everest odyssey. From the 1951 expedition that led to the discovery of the Southern Route, through the grueling Himalayan training of 1952, and on to the successful 1953 expedition led by Colonel John Hunt, Hillary conveys in precise language the mountain's unforgiving conditions. In explicit detail he recalls an Everest where chaotic icefalls force costly detours, unstabl snow ledges promise to avalanche at the slightest misstep, and brutal weather shifts from pulse-stopping cold to fiendish heat in mere minutes. (NPL48, $19.95)
Himalayan Enchantment, An Anthology  •  Frank Kingdon-Ward EXPLORATION •  1990 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES An anthology of writings by the great Himalayan explorer and plant-collector Frank Kingdon-Ward, who undertook 25 expeditions to the region from 1909 to 1953. The selections balance his interest in plants with his interest in geography, birds, beasts, insects and its variegated inhabitants, not only Tibetan and Chinese, but also the hill tribes -- Abors, Darus, Dulengs, Kachins, Lisus, Lutzus, Marus, Mishimis, Nungs and others -- in whose life he took such an affectionate interest. (HML03, $19.95)
Himalayan Passage, Seven Months in the High Country of Tibet, Nepal, China, India, & Pakistan  •  Jeremy Schmidt TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES The story of two adventurous young couples who travel by bike, truck and foot across the Himalayas strong on the culture and people of the region. With 32 pages of color photographs. Starting in Lhasa, Tibet, in the spring of 1987, they headed west along the north slope of the mountains into China and Pakistan and returned on the south side through India and Nepal. (HML05, $18.95)
In Denali: A Photographic Essay of Denali National Park and Preserve  •  Kim Heacox NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 93 PAGES This handsome portrait of Denali, by a well known writer, photographer and naturalist, features color photographs along with an overview of the wildlife, landscapes, human history and environmental challenges of the immense park. With a bird checklist and list of 101 common flowers and plants. (ALA26, $22.95)
Into Thin Air, A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster  •  Jon Krakauer EXPLORATION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES In this bestseller, climber and journalist Krakauer reconstructs a minute-by-minute account of what went wrong on the great mountain in 1996. He captures the immediacy of those few hours on Everest when disaster struck -- and the psychological complexity of surviving a tragedy. (HML08, $26.95)
Into Thin Air, A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster  •  Jon Krakauer EXPLORATION •  1999 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES In this bestseller, climber and journalist Krakauer reconstructs a minute-by-minute account of what went wrong on the great mountain in 1996. He captures the immediacy of those few hours on Everest when disaster struck -- and the psychological complexity of surviving a tragedy. (HML13, $14.95)
K2, Triumph and Tragedy  •  Jim Curran EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER This is a tense account of disaster on the world's second highest mountain in 1986. The author was on the mountain when 13 climbers in 9 different expeditions died. (PKN05, $15.00)
Kilimanjaro & East Africa, A Climbing and Trekking Guide  •  Cameron Burns GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 236 PAGES A compact guide to climbing with practical information on planning for your trek, outfitters and routes. It covers all the major forest and moorland routes to the main peaks on Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, Mt. Meru and the Rwenzoris. With sketch maps and photographs. Second edition. (EAF63, $19.95)
Killing Dragons, The Conquest of the Alps  •  Fergus Fleming EXPLORATION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 398 PAGES Fleming spins lively tales of man against nature in this entertaining history of the eccentrics, adventurers and publicity-hounds who sought to conquer the Alps, including Whymper and his first ascent of the Matterhorn (where four of the seven-man team perished). (ALP16, $14.00)
Life and Death on Mt. Everest, Sherpas and Himalayan Mountaineering  •  Sherry B. Ortner CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  PAPER  • 376 PAGES A vividly written, scholarly study of the relationship between the Sherpas and the mountaineers who come to "conquer" the Himalayas. Anthropologist Ortner dissects the collision of cultures and their perceptions and preconceptions of each other. For those who like a little theory with their history, it's an important look at mountaineering from the sherpa point of view by an academic who has lived and worked among them since the 1960s. (TBT33, $27.95)
Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya  •  Stan Armington GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES This classic guide, now in its eighth edition, is great for both practical trail information and general information on the region. Armington has lived in Nepal for over 25 years, and his experience shows in his suggestions for preparation and his coverage of Nepalese culture. (NPL23, $19.99)
The Magnificent Mountain Women, Adventures in the Colorado Rockies  •  Janet Robertson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1991 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES For this satisfying history Robertson gathers excerpts from the journals and letters of Colorado's pioneering explorers, sportswomen, lady botanists and modern climbers, quite a colorful group. She leads off with suffragist Julia Archibald Holmes, the first woman to climb Pikes Peak in 1858. With a marvelous 54-page selection of archival photos and maps. (USW199, $15.95)
Mount Rainier, A Visitor's Companion  •  George Wuerthner  •  Douglas W. Moore GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 230 PAGES A compact guide featuring an overview of the natural history of the park and 300 color illustrations and photos of commonly encountered plants and animals. (PNW155, $19.95)
Mountain Light, In Search of the Dynamic Landscape  •  Galen Rowell NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Originally published in 1985 and updated for a 10th anniversary edition by the Sierra Club, this book is still the single best introduction to landscape photography and, particularly, the challenges of photographing mountains. Rowell presents 80 of his most spectacular images, divided according to visual content. Each chapter illustrates a theme or technique, supplemented by a short personal essay. Like any good workshop, the book will both inspire and instruct fellow photographers. There's no photographer at work more sensitive to the magic of Alpine glow than Galen Rowell. (PHT06, $29.95)
Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills  •  The Mountaineers GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES The essential handbook for mountaineers, in a seventh revised edition. With chapters on outdoor fundamentals, rock, snow, ice, and alpine climbing, emergency prevention and response, the mountain environment, and gear. (GEN267, $29.95)
The Mountains of My Life  •  Walter Bonatti BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 442 PAGES The candid memoir of the great Italian climber and his adventures in the Alps, the Himalayas, and South America, including Bonatti's account of what happened on the summit of K2 in 1954 (which caused a ruckus in the Italian press, libel suits and other bad behavior). Many would agree Bonatti was treated badly by the press and Italian mountaineering community. Bonatti includes the 1986 report on the K2 affair by Robert Marshall, who also translated the book and provides an introduction. (ALP25, $16.95)
Mt. Everest  •  National Geographic 1998 •  MAP A gloriously detailed, bird's-eye view of Everest by the cartographers at National Geographic, this 23 1/2 x 38 poster map shows the glaciers, valleys and peaks of the Mt. Everest region in beautiful shaded relief. The price includes shipping in a sturdy tube. (NPL36, $19.99)
No Picnic on Mount Kenya  •  Felice Benuzzi  •  Rick Ridgeway EXPLORATION •  2005 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Bored beyond belief in a British prisoner of war camp at the foot of Mount Kenya in 1943, the author scrounged the food, material and colleagues to break-out of the camp, climb the mountain -- and then sneak back into prison. Among the many pleasures of this book are Benuzzi's accounts of the landscapes, animals and habitats on the way to the top. This splendid adventure is characterized by Benuzzi's offhand courage and great spirit. (EAF59, $14.95)
Rising from the Plains  •  John McPhee NATURAL HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 213 PAGES Few nature writers are as vivid or compelling as John McPhee. A great storyteller and reporter, here he profiles U.S. Geological Survey scientist David Love while simultaneously writing a sophisticated, elegant and accessible description of the geology of Wyoming and, by extension, the northern Rockies. (USW18, $15.00)
Scrambles Amongst the Alps: In the Years 1860-69  •  Edward Whymper EXPLORATION •  2002 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Not just an account of Victorian-era mountaineering, this classic first-person account captures the geography, beauty and allure of the region. The intrepid Whymper made the first ascents of several important peaks in the Andes and the Alps, including famously the Matterhorn. (ALP02, $14.00)
Seven Summits  •  Dick Bass  •  Frank Wells  •  Rick Ridgeway EXPLORATION •  1988 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES They were both in their 50s, one of them doesn't even make it to all seven peaks. This book -- as told to climber and writer Rick Ridgeway -- is nonetheless pretty amazing, a testimony to the power of money and determination. For those heading to Africa, it includes a detailed description of the (non-techinal) Machame route on Kilimanjaro. They tackled the peaks (some with Ridgeway) in the following order, culminating on the third try with a successful Everest Summit by Bass, then the oldest man to ever stand on top of the world's highest mountain: Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro , Elbrus, Kosciusko, Vinson and Everest. (EXP48, $15.99)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro  •  Ernest Hemingway LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 156 PAGES A collection of 10 excellent Hemingway stories set in Africa, including The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber (which begin and end the collection, respectively). The latter is a chilling masterpiece concerning an American couple on a big-game safari. Originally published in 1936, the book draws from stories written over the previous nine years, when Hemingway's prose was at it's best; a classic not to be missed. (EAF26, $13.00)
So Close to Heaven, The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas  •  Barbara Crossette TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES • FAVORITE A "New York Times" Asia correspondent writes of Bhutan and neighboring kingdoms of Ladakh and Sikkim in the Himalayas, strongholds of Tantric Buddhism in an increasingly homogenized world. It's part travelogue and part history -- a personal portrait of the region. (NPL04, $16.00)
Something Hidden Behind the Ranges, A Himalayan Quest  •  Daniel Taylor-Ide TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES Mixing travelogue, personal adventure and excellent writing on the environment and nature of the Himalayas, the author takes us on a journey through the mountain kingdoms. (HML22, $14.95)
Touching the Void  •  Joe Simpson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2004 •  PAPER  • 218 PAGES The harrowing tale of a climb gone badly wrong and Simpson's near miraculous survival in the Andes. Dedicated to Simon Yates ("for a debt I can never repay"), Simpson recounts his 3-day ordeal after being cut loose by his climbing partner on the face of a glacier and dropping into a crevasse. Neither men thought he would survive. Yates had been lowering his crippled partner down the mountain, when he had to make the choice of cutting him lose or dying with him. More than a tale of adventure and survival, the book has a psychological impact -- and now it has been made into a film, which interweaves interviews of Simpson and Yates with a reenactment. (AND37, $14.95)
Tour of Mont Blanc, Complete Trekking Guide  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 243 PAGES A compact guide to the 11-day, 120-mile classic walk encircling Mont Blanc. With color and black-and-white photos, maps and elevations. The heart of the book is a detailed kilometer-by-kilometer guide to each section of the tour including timings, distances and the author's encouraging, personable remarks on the route. Revised. (ALP24, $19.95)
Trekking in East Africa  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES A guide to Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya and the Rwenzori mountains and lesser-known treks in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This book is both a practical guide to preparing for your trip and a good introduction to the history, culture and wildlife of the region. With 27 trekking maps, a section of color photographs and a focus on trekking. (EAF67, $19.99)
Trekking in Nepal, A Traveler's Guide  •  Sir Edmund Hillary  •  Stephen Bezruchka GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 383 PAGES A respected guide covering, in detail, route planning for trekkers, national parks, health, where to go and what to do in Nepal. With an overview of the geography, history, religion and culture of the region. Regularly revised, the guide has been around since 1976. Invaluable for its route descriptions, the book also includes good information on cross-cultural understanding. With 16 so-so maps, elevation profiles of major treks and 76 black-and-white photographs. (NPL10, $16.95)
Trekking in the Annapurna Region  •  Bryn Thomas GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A practical guide to trekking in the region by the intrepid Bryn Thomas (Trans-Siberian Handbook), this book features route maps, village plans and concise information on preparations and what to see and do. He includes an overview of Nepal and the traditional Tibetan trade route through the Kali Gandaki River valley to the Himalayan desert plateau beyond. Excerpts from the book and others in the British series are online at www.trailblazer-guides.com. Aimed at the do-it-yourself market, this handy guide also has much to offer anyone planning to trek in the region. (NPL29, $19.95)
Vulcan's Fury, Man against the Volcano  •  Alwyn Scarth NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 299 PAGES In the contest of "Man against the Volcano," nature always wins. The author draws together eyewitness accounts, science, sociology and folklore in this page-turning account of 15 dramatic volcanic events from Vesuvius to Krakatau, Mt. St. Helens and Pinatubo. (GEO10, $48.00)
A Walk in the Woods  •  Bill Bryson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 276 PAGES Bryson manages to combine biting satire with a certain warmth in all his books, and this one is no exception. He tackles (or tries to, anyway) the whole of the Appalachian trail, starting in Georgia. It's not only a very entertaining read, but a fond memoir and very evocative of some unusual locales. (USE01, $14.95)
Walking in the Dolomites  •  Gillian Price GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A comprehensive walker's guide to the Dolomites geared to a wide variety of difficulty levels. Gillian Price is our guide to the natural wonders, historical artifacts and mountain refuges of this spectacular range. Illustrated with photographs and maps. (ITL289, $19.95)
White Spider, The Classic Account of the Ascent of the Eiger  •  Heinrich Harrer EXPLORATION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES The classic tale of a young climber and the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger in 1938. This edition includes photographs, maps, additional chapters by Harrer and Kurt Maix from 1964, and a chronology of attempts on the North Face. (ALP09, $15.95)
Windows into the Earth, The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks  •  Robert B. Smith  •  Lee J. Siegel NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A well-illustrated, lively geologic history and tour of the northern Rockies, particularly Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. With 50 color photographs, suggested geologic points of interest and an outstanding, crystal-clear overview of the geologic formation of the region. (USW356, $29.95)
Young Men & Fire  •  Norman MacLean HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 301 PAGES A lyrical and finely wrought story of the famous Mann Gulch, Montana firestorm, which took the lives of 13 of the elite Smokejumpers of the U.S. Forest Service in August 1949. It is an evocative tale of human error, the great power of nature and the spirit of the American West. (USW95, $16.00)