An engagingly written portrait of the times and climbs of premier French mountainerer Lionel Terray by himself, including the Eigerwand, Fitzroy, Annapurna and other groundbreaking expeditions.

    McKinley, K2, Makalu, Manaslu, and Everest-including his diary entries on the infamous 1996 disaster, written shortly after his return-are immortalized. There also are minute technical details about the skill of mountain climbing, as well as personal reflections on what life means to someone who risks it every day. Fully illustrated with gorgeous color photos, Above the Clouds is a unique and breathtaking look at the world from its most remote peaks.

    100 photos.

    From H.W. Tilman and Eric Shipton to Mark Twight and John Sherman, Gloriious Failures has compiled and condensed the true stories of ill-fated mountaineering adventures. Glorious Failures is an engaging collection of the most famous and infamous almost-summits. Each of these early attempts often rival the first successful ascent in fame and notoriety. One example is the story of the 1956 American expedition to K2, which came tantalizingly close to the summit only to be forced back by illness and weather, is told in fascinating detail by Jim Curran.