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Climbing Books/Inspirational Stories

Original Post
Kennedy Quigg · · Watertown, NY · Joined Apr 2018 · Points: 91

Hello world,

I’m posted up for the next 8 weeks or so with a fractured tibia. Looking for some good climbing (or non-climbing?) books/autobiographies/inspirational stories to ease and enteertain my mind. Any suggestions?

Drew Nevius · · Broken Arrow, OK · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 2,426

The Push - Tommy Caldwell
Climbing Free - Lynn Hill
Valley Walls - Glen Denny

Not climbing (but incredibly entertaining, as requested):
Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

Sorry about the tibia - heal fast, Kennedy!

Dan Cooksey · · Pink Ford Thunderbird · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 365

Some stories - Yvon Chouinard - it’s pretty big and packed with.....you guessed it, stories.

Challenge of the North Cascades - Fred Beckey

I fractured my Tibia many years ago.  Hope it heels well.  
Best of luck.  Be safe and have fun. 

Luis Saca · · Las Vegas · Joined Dec 2018 · Points: 666

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer

Yianni A · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 5

Beyond the Mountain - Steve House

Jeff Dull · · Elkhart, IN · Joined Dec 2017 · Points: 10

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman.

Buck Rio · · MN · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 16

Under the Banner of Heaven by Krakauer
Spirit of the Age / A History of Free Climbing both by Pat Ament

Skip "The Push", poorly written and frankly, left me with a low opinion of TC.

Dan Cooksey · · Pink Ford Thunderbird · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 365
Buck Rio wrote: Under the Banner of Heaven by Krakauer
Spirit of the Age / A History of Free Climbing both by Pat Ament

Skip "The Push", poorly written and frankly, left me with a low opinion of TC.

Blasphemy. Tommy Caldwell is synonymous with Chuck Norris, atleast in the climbing world.

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

South by Ernest Shackleton
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Adrift by Steven Callahan
The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, both by J.R.R. Tolkien

Shackleton's adventures involved a bit of mountaineering, even if they didn't actually summit anything. Shackleton's book is an excellent account of how his whole expedition accomplished some truly impressive stuff. Lansing's book gives a more complete picture of what an awesome leader Shackleton really was.

Buck Rio · · MN · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 16
Dan Cooksey wrote:

Blasphemy. Tommy Caldwell is synonymous with Chuck Norris, atleast in the climbing world.

TC is a great climber, no doubt.

The whole thing with Beth Rodden was weird, and made him look weak. And he said some pretty heavy stuff about his dad.  I bought the book in Estes Park, while his dad was there.  Tommy had done a signing earlier but I was still out climbing and missed it.
petzl logic · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 730

get the hugh herr biography 

Jason4Too · · Bellingham, Washington · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 0

One Mountain Thousand Summits by Freddie Wilkinson
The Art of Freedom by Bernadette McDonald

You can also kill a lot of time listening to a few podcasts: the Enormocast from Chris Kallous and Dissect from Mark Twight are both long format (90 minute episodes).  The Enormocast tends to be more coherent while Dissect is more tangents and rambling usually about bicycles or fitness with a few guys past their prime but still into suffering.

Todd Ulz · · oakland · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 5

Mark twight - kiss or kill
Barry Blanchard - the calling: a life rocked by mountains
Another vote for endurance by Shackleton

If you’ve reallllly got time, check out shantaram, epic semi autobiographical adventure/crime/drama everything.  I listened to the entire 40 hour audio book road tripping to red rocks and Moab, the narrator is amazing 

Peter Thomas · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2018 · Points: 213
Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer. One of my favorites. 
Dan Cooksey · · Pink Ford Thunderbird · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 365
Buck Rio wrote:

TC is a great climber, no doubt.

The whole thing with Beth Rodden was weird, and made him look weak. And he said some pretty heavy stuff about his dad.  I bought the book in Estes Park, while his dad was there.  Tommy had done a signing earlier but I was still out climbing and missed it.

I enjoyed it.  I agree there was some heavy stuff in there. I just can't imagine being so committed to something in my life.  I'd like to think I am capable of dedication like that, but I am not.  

Kennedy Quigg · · Watertown, NY · Joined Apr 2018 · Points: 91
  • Thanks everyone for your input. It’s a non-surgical hairline fracture, so definitely could be worse! Be safe and have fun out there!
seamus mcshane · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 210

The Tower. By Kelly Cordes.
The Impossible Climb. By Mark Synnott

jds1 · · Michigan · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 30

Gorilla Monsoon - John Long
Lighting Out - Daniel Duane
Angels of Light - Jeff Long
Eiger Dreams - Jon Krakauer
Solo Faces - James Salter

Jeff

Nate H · · Seattle, WA · Joined May 2019 · Points: 1

Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. It's about surfing . . . I've never surfed and I loved it. It's a great read by a very talented writer. 

ubu · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 10
Buck Rio wrote:

TC is a great climber, no doubt.

The whole thing with Beth Rodden was weird, and made him look weak. And he said some pretty heavy stuff about his dad.  I bought the book in Estes Park, while his dad was there.  Tommy had done a signing earlier but I was still out climbing and missed it.

Just finished "The Push" last night, and thought it was an exceptional book.  Very well written, and TC really put himself out there in terms of assessing his own failings.  The overall description of the process for freeing the Dawn Wall was extraordinary.  The level of dedication is really awe inspiring, and the book is worth reading just to see how much blood, sweat, and tears went into it.

djh860 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 110
mark felber wrote: South by Ernest Shackleton
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Adrift by Steven Callahan
The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, both by J.R.R. Tolkien

Shackleton's adventures involved a bit of mountaineering, even if they didn't actually summit anything. Shackleton's book is an excellent account of how his whole expedition accomplished some truly impressive stuff. Lansing's book gives a more complete picture of what an awesome leader Shackleton really was.

Shackleton story is amazing.  

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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