Book recommendations

25 Aug 2024

JamesMorgan

Can anyone recommend any good ski touring / ski mountaineering / alpine mountaineering books?  Not guidebooks but accounts / memoirs etc.; and “good” as in well written.  Looking for some “pool-side” inspiration during the family summer holiday.

The (in my opinion) near peerless HW Tilman’s books are already well thumbed; as is Kit Deslaurier’s “Higher Love” (and although not really a mountaineering book, “Blokes Up North” by Kev Oliver and Tony Lancashire is worth an honourable mention (as it has a lot of ice, and they both Royal Marines).

The problem is I’ve read all of them more than once … so new suggestions gratefully received!

26 Aug 2024

TimSimpson

Hi James.  If you haven't come across Frank Smythe, I strongly recommend him.  I have a precious collection of his six alpine/himalayan climbing books.  To get a flavour, read the first page of book 6 - Mountaineering Holiday.

Happy reading, Tim

26 Aug 2024

AndyPerkins

Killing Dragons by Fergus Fleming - as good history of alpinism as you'll find anywhere. Well written IMHO

Not alpine as such, but The Shining Mountain by Pete Boardman. 

And on that note,if you want well written books, then go through the winners of the Boardman Tasker award over the last few years and see what takes your fancy. See http://www.boardmantasker.com/archive and take your pick

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