My favourite Mountaineering Books

Touching the void

It is the heart-stopping account of Joe Simpson’s terrifying adventure in the Peruvian Andes. He and his climbing partner, Simon, reached the the summit of the remote Siula Grande 6344m in June 1995. A few days later, Simon staggered into Base Camp, exhausted and frost-bitten, with news that that Joe was dead.

Beyond Possible: 14 peaks in 6 months

It is the most epic mountaineering adventure to complete the 14 8000m peaks in the world record time of 7 months. When the #ProjectPossible was first launched people actually laughed at the plan. Even if we consider 1 month for one mountain it would take minimum 14 months. Add to it the limited summit window makes it very difficult to even plan it. But human mind is very powerful and can do anything it believes in. Nimsdai made the entire world an audience to his herculean task to achieve the impossible in just over 6 months.

Into the wild

True story of Chris McCandless, a young man who, in 1992 gave up on all the materialistic needs and walked deep into the Alaskan wilderness .International bestselling author Jon Krakauer explores the obsession which leads some people to explore the outer limits of self, leave civilization behind and seek enlightenment through solitude and contact with nature

Savage Arena

Joe Tasker and his climber partner Chris Boardman were known in their day for pushing the boundaries of mountaineering. Savage Arena details his achievements – including ascending the north face of the Eiger in winter and a new route on Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world and one of the most difficult 8000ers.
Tasker delivered the transcript to his publisher just as he left for an Everest expedition in 1982 – and sadly never returned.

Annapurna

In 1950, no mountain higher than 8,000 meters had ever been climbed. Maurice Herzog and other members of the French Alpine Club resolved to try. This is the enthralling story of the first conquest of Annapurna and the harrowing descent. With breathtaking courage and grit manifest on every page, Annapurna is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told.

K2- Worlds most dangerous mountain

Ed Viesturs explores the remarkable history of K2 and of those who have attempted to conquer it. Viesturs knows the mountain firsthand. He and renowned alpinist Scott Fischer climbed it in 1992 and got caught in an avalanche that sent them sliding to almost certain death before Ed managed to get into a self-arrest position with his ice ax and stop both his fall and Scott’s….

NangaParbat Pilgrimage

Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage is a classic of mountaineering literature that has inspired thousands of climbers. In it, Hermann Buhl records his 1953 solo first ascent of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world, and the third 8,000-metre peak to be climbed, following Annapurna and Everest. It was one of the most incredible climbs ever made.