In the mountains, the difference between a pleasant day of hiking and a life-threatening disaster is as simple as a loose rock, a turned ankle, or a misjudged patch of ice. In an instant, even the most experienced and prepared of outdoorspersons can find themselves at the mercy of the elements (and their own choices) — and suddenly, sometimes tragically, the situation slips out their control. In this collection of over fifty tales of day hikes and long treks gone awry, the seasoned climber and writer Carol Stone White brings together some of her favorite tales of outdoor misadventure written by colleagues and fellow enthusiasts who have experienced the harsher side of climbing the peaks of New England and the Adirondacks. From freak falls to outrunning storms, from life-threatening hypothermia to the excitement of unlikely rescues, these tales inform as much as they entertain, teaching even the experienced climber that accidents can happen to anyone and that preparation and the ability to make split-second decisions can often mean the difference between life and death. Like sitting around the campfire sharing tales of terror and near death with your hiking buddies, this collection will appeal to the true outdoorsperson as well as the armchair adventurer.
Whether these hikers are savvy or foolish, out in summer or winter, on a day trip or a marathon, climbing mountaintops or bushwhacking the slopes, their "peak experiences" make for fascinating and educational reading. Ms. White does a service to both outdoors-people and their observers in collecting these tales in one volume.
In this surprising combination of unvarnished narratives, mountaineers bare their own mistakes and those of novices they have rescued. These tales of ill-prepared climbers, sudden storms, forgotten equipment, poor planning, and simple bad luck humble all of us who climb in the Northeastern mountains. These parables guide but never preach. They remind us to respect these hills.
Climbers-even veterans of many peaks-make mistakes. Carol Stone White has put together a fascinating collection of tales of mountain missteps by those whose judgment failed them (but who lived to tell the tale). If you’re an armchair mountaineer, prepare to shiver in your warm and comfortable chair as you share the experience of blinding storms, freezing cold, and punishing winds. If you’re a climber, read this book carefully-it could save your life.
In this surprising combination of unvarnished narratives, mountaineers bare their own mistakes and those of novices they have rescued. These tales of ill-prepared climbers, sudden storms, forgotten equipment, poor planning, and simple bad luck humble all of us who climb in the Northeastern mountains. These parables guide but never preach. They remind us to respect these hills.
CAROL STONE WHITE is an avid mountain climber and author of numerous books including Women with Altitude: Challenging the Adirondack High Peaks in Winter.
Founded in 1971, Brandeis University Press is a nonprofit publisher dedicated to publishing innovative, high-quality books for a general audience, as well as scholarship that advances knowledge and promotes dialogue in the humanities, arts, and social sciences around the world.
© Copyright 2024, Brandeis University Press
Brandeis University Press
Goldfarb Library 69-235, MS 046
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 736-4547
pressinfo@brandeis.edu
Stay up to date with the newest titles and promotions from Brandeis University Press—while saving 20% on your first purchase.
