Stories in the mountains: great books about great adventures

10 of February, 2014

"We want to dedicate this post to the recently deceased mountaineer in Peñalara Eduardo del Blanco Adán and his family and for the speedy recovery of Carlos Lorenzo."

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A new “explosive cyclogenesis” threatens to lock you up for another week at home… the hours seem endless, the walls collapse on you and nothing is shown on TV.

Here we leave you four of the best books that have been written about the mountains, four true stories written by their protagonists:

“Annapurna, First 8000: The Great Adventure” by Maurice Herzog (1950). Publisher: Desnivel.

Summary of The House of the Book: on June 3, 1950, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the top of Annapurna, becoming the first human beings to summit a mountain over eight thousand meters, miraculously escaping death . In the months that followed, while he was recovering in the hospital from his terrible amputations (which would leave him without his fingers and toes), Herzog dictated Annapurna the first eight thousand, one of the masterpieces of mountain expeditionary literature. Let's enjoy the richest source of inspiration we can imagine: the footprints of these adventurers who left us a true story of courage and camaraderie. Of exploration and passion for adventure.

“The Conquerors of the Useless” by Lionel Terray (1963). Publisher: Desnivel.

Summary of La casa del Libro: we have recovered for our fund one of the most read mountain books of all time, The Conquerors of the Useless. Its author, Lionel Terray (1921-1965), was described by Messner as "one of the most outstanding figures in the history of mountaineering". And without a doubt it is like this as an absolute first opener to Fitz Roy, Chacraraju, Jannu, Makalu or Mont Huntington. In his activity in the Alps, the first repetition of the North of the Eiger and the Cassin al Piz Badile in seven and a half hours stand out, both with Louis Lachenal. In 1950 he participated in the French expedition to Annapurna, in which he gave up the summit to ensure the descent of Herzog and Lachenal. He died at the age of 44 in a climbing accident. His risky character and the immense passion with which he lives each of his ascents make him a writer out of the ordinary. That is why "Conquistadores" as we call his book in the family, is and will be a classic of mountain literature, essential for those who, in addition to climbing mountains, like to dream about them.

“k2 the Infinite knot” by Kurt Diemberger (2004). Publisher: Desnivel.

Summary of La casa del Libro: “K2 the infinite knot” is one of the great classics of mountain literature. We live the story of powerful fascination, which forever unites the destiny of two people to a beautiful and inaccessible mountain. In 1957, young Kurt saw K2 for the first time from the base of Broad Peak. From then on, his whole life revolves around the magic of the Chogori. After some frustrated attempts, he returns in 1986 together with Julie Tullis with the hope of finally being able to reach the top. But 1986 is a tragic year on K2. An unexpected storm traps seven people at an altitude of eight thousand meters for several days. Kurt and Julie, after fulfilling their dream of stepping on the summit that they had longed for for years, fight for their lives in an unequal combat against the forces of nature. After a tragic descent, only two people, Kurt and Willy Bauer, reach base camp, amazingly managing to survive the wrath of the mountain.

Nobody better than Kurt Diemberger to tell you about his experience in dignified Spanish / Italian:

“Altitude Sickness: personal account of the great tragedy of Everest” by Jon Krakauer (1996). Publisher: Desnivel.

Summary of La casa del Libro: altitude sickness has become a must read for all lovers of mountain, adventure or travel literature. An international best seller both for the quality of the story and for the success with which its author, Jon Krakauer, tells us what happened. What else can be said about a tragedy that shocked the world of the mountain even transcending it... perhaps only that it is worth soaking up the intensity of the words and the graphic style of the author that manage to catch the reader and take us on this literary journey to the very heart of the inevitable. Altitude sickness reads like a good novel, but it's not fiction. Jon Krakauer set out for the Himalayas in 1996 to write a story about the increasing commercial exploitation of Everest. His intention was to explore why so many people are willing to take risks previously reserved for professional climbers. After crowning the highest peak on Earth, Krakauer began the dangerous descent, but not everyone made it; there were deaths, there were injuries and much controversy. This work aroused so much controversy that Krakauer was forced to write a reply post scriptum, included in this edition. Time stands still as Krakauer movingly outlines and recounts what happened

If you speak English you can also watch this lecture by Ken Kamler “Inside the 1996 Everest Disaster”: