What are you reading?

[TaylorHolt]

This months national geographic has a good article on the effort to climb Burma's (Myanmar) tallest peak - Hkakabo Razi. Well worth reading.

Also, not a mountain book, but Into the Kingdom of Ice about the 1879 attempt to reach the north pole is excellent. Similar story to the famous Shackleton expedition in the antarctic.

I really enjoyed Hampton Sides' book Blood and Thunder (which has been discussed on here before). I bought Into the Kingdom of Ice for my dad for Father's Day, and he really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading it myself.

[Broken Knee]

"Touching the Void."

When it was first released, I picked up a first edition hard cover of TOV and binged it all night before giving a big presentation at work the next day. One of my peers said I looked like the bottom of a bottle of Scotch. I told him to look south of the border for the correct muscle relaxant.

[Broken Knee]

A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold. Starting working as a Wilderness Ranger with the Forest Service this summer and was told I NEED to read this book if I am to be a wilderness manager. Aldo is the man!

Cool, I need to find this.

BTW, your avatar is most excellent. I think I was up there the day it was shot, just in a different decade.

[fahixson]

I'm reading Unbroken, which I know has been mentioned in this thread previously. However, it reminded me of another book I read a few years ago called Coming out of the Ice: An Unexpected Life by Victor Herman. It was later made into a TV Movie, but I haven't watched it.

If you don't know Victor Herman's story, it's astonishing. Much like Louie Zamperini's experience relayed in Unbroken, the hardships Herman endured through his life serve as a reminder of what the human spirit/body is capable of surviving. It has nothing to do with mountains, but a great perseverance story.

[jerseybrian]

I really liked "The Mountain of my fear" by David Roberts. You can really see the infuence he had on Krakauer. His writing in this one is epic!

[hokiehead]

just finished Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee H. Whittlesey.

2 stars out of 5

Read it on recommendation of Xantera guide during our winter trip last year. One or two humorous anecdotes, but mostly a data dump. Some interesting discussion about what steps that parks have made to create a safe environment, while trying to preserve a wild experience, and avoid liability.

[USAKeller]

Not a mountain book, but No More Dragons by Jim Burgen.

[Hungry Jack]

In recent months:
The Last Season: the circumstances around SEKI backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson's disappearance and death in the Sierra backcountry.

The Pine Barrens: John McPhee's well written history of our country's most unique "wilderness" area

The Lost City of Z: another story of an adventurer who ventures into wilderness in search of some fabled city. Reminds me of Finding Bigfoot in some ways...

World War Z: love the creativity of this novel. It really transports the reader to a different place.

Nudge: behavioral economics is fascinating.

[painless4u2]

Just finished The Pass, written by Stewart Edward White in 1906, about the wilderness trip he made in the Sierra Nevadas with his wife, a friend, a few horses and a couple of dogs. It mainly concerns figuring out how to cut across the Sierra without the aid of trails or any idea if a route would work, and the naming of Elizabeth Pass (after his wife). Sure makes you appreciate modern equipment and clothing. It also demonstrated the appalling lack of LNT principles in place back then, but may have been somewhat necessary in order to survive the times/conditions.

[Jim Davies]

just finished Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee H. Whittlesey.

2 stars out of 5

There's a similar book about Grand Canyon called Over the Edge that I found interesting. Lots of statistics and historical stories.

[MtnHub]

Not a mountain book, but No More Dragons by Jim Burgen.

Another Narnia lover here! This sounds really interesting! Thanks for suggestion, Caroline!

[cpb145]

I'm reading 'How to Archer, the Ultimate Guide to Espionage and Style and Women and Also Cocktails Ever Written'.
So far so good.