Synopses & Reviews
Nothing is quite so awe inspiring, or inhospitable to humans as the world's tallest mountains. Journey to the European Alps, the Himalaya, the Karakoram Range, and the polar region of North America with one of the world's great climbers and discover how mountaineers reached the top of five of the world's highest mountains for the first time. Meet the pioneers who braved incredible dangers like rock falls, crevasses, whiteouts, and avalanches to summit against all odds. Large fold-out posters and gatefolds illustrate the story of each dangerous climb, and detailed maps show how later climbers changed the routes to the summit. Throughout it all, readers will explore the fascinating question of what drives these adventurers to reach the top, no matter the cost.
Review
The Horn BookInformative and accessible, each book contains archival images, detailed maps, and poster-size foldout pages that, in turn, add interest and variation to the texts. Library Media ConnectionThrough photos, maps, and lots of primary -source quotes, readers will follow these intrepid explorers along their journeys and learn about the hardships and dangers they faced.Of special interest are a section on famous women climbers, scans of Cook's request for trip supplies, and some old maps that show just how much these explorers contributed to our knowledge. . . . The best thing about these books is the careful attention to detail... The Nonfiction Detective (blog)Stunning photographs grace the pages of this high-interest book about five of the world's highest peaks. . . . It's a book that will definitely circulate again and again. Charts are effectively used throughout the book to document the names and dates of attempts to reach the summits. . . . Epic Climbs is sure to be a popular book with kids who love to read about real life adventures! Infodad.com[A]s a visual exploration of some of the worlds most challenging peaks and the people who have surmounted them (if not tamed them; they are untamable), Epic Climbs is wonderful to read and even better to look at. BooklistFor kids serious about their climbing and already versed in mountaineering lingo, though, this book is a surefire attention grabber. The busy profiles of five of the world's most intimidating peaks (the Eiger, K2, Mount Everest, Mount McKinley, and the Matterhorn) are deeply detailed in a browser-friendly array of text blocks, photos, maps, and diagrams. . . . Thrills come in the form of the descriptions of a number of famous and infamous expeditions that pushed further and further up toward each mountain's summit, courting death and disaster at every turn. Technical information on equipment and tactics, glimpses of uniquely named terrain features, and related scientific information on such topics as weather and avalanches complete the bracing package. Kirkus ReviewsArmchair climbers . . . are in for thrills. Tucsoncitizen.comIn this edition of the engaging new Epic Adventure series, readers, grades 5 and up, can follow the amazing, true exploits of trailblazers, past and present. . . . Cleare, who has been addicted to mountain climbing sincle his school days, has climbed, skied, and explored the mountains of six continents which gives this book its credibility. School Library JournalEach section has a short, easy-to-read summary that gives the history of climbers who have conquered these peaks. Full-color photos include the view from the top and historical and contemporary climbing equipment. . . . Young readers will enjoy browsing through [this book].
Synopsis
Discover how adventurous mariners used their skill and resourcefulness to adapt to challenging conditions--unpredictable weather, physical hardship, unforeseen perils. Find out which strategies and survival techniques succeeded and which failed, sometimes with tragic results. Explore the vast oceans and wild seas navigated by these intrepid sailers on their long, dangerous voyages.
About the Author
Addicted to mountaineering since schooldays,
John Cleare has climbed, skied and explored among the mountains of six continents, led numerous expeditions and made first ascents in the Alps, Africa, and the Himalaya. He has been a professional photographer for 50 years and has an international reputation as a mountain and wilderness photographer. He has made films on the Matterhorn, the Eiger, Everest, and elsewhere, and his picture archive, Mountain Camera, is well known.
John and his wife live in rural Wiltshire.