“A classic in the literature of survival.” —Newsweek On October 12, 1972, a Uruguayan Air Force plane carrying a team of rugby players crashed in the remote, snow-peaked Andes Mountains. Ten weeks later, only 16 of the 45 passengers were found alive. This is the story of those ten weeks spent in the shelter of the plane’s fuselage without food and scarcely any hope of a rescue. They survived by protecting and helping one another, and coming to the difficult conclusion that to live meant doing the unimaginable. Confronting nature at its most furious, two brave young men risked their lives to hike through the mountains looking for help—and ultimately found it.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

Read, Piers Paul

Arts & Photography

William Morrow Paperbacks

A detailed account of the cruel hardships and daily struggles endured by the Uruguayans whose airplane crashed in the Andes in October, 1972

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, “Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. In addition to the raw excitement of Viesturs’s odyssey, No Shortcuts to the Top is leavened with many funny moments revealing the camaraderie between climbers. It is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and his beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Viesturs, Ed

Roberts, David

Random House Audio

Ice climbing continues to grow more popular every year. Advances in equipment and technique have helped make the sport accessible to a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts. How to Ice Climb! is the most complete and up-to-date reference available on the sport. Climber and accomplished photographer Tim Banfield provides all the information beginners need to get into ice climbing, as well as many valuable tips that the experts will appreciate, too. Starting with an overview of the history of ice climbing, the authors move on to cover clothing, gear, approach strategies, avalanche safety, snow climbing, frontpointing, overhanging ice, mixed climbing, hazards….all facets of ice climbing are thoroughly examined and explained. Full color photos complement the text to make How to Ice Climb! the most complete resource available.

How to Ice Climb!

Sports & Outdoors

Banfield, Tim

Isaac, Sean

Hiking & Camping

Falcon Guides

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time. For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go. A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, “Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. In addition to the raw excitement of Viesturs’s odyssey, No Shortcuts to the Top is leavened with many funny moments revealing the camaraderie between climbers. It is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and his beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

Biographies

Broadway Books

This gripping and triumphant memoir from the author of The Mountain follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time. For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go. A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, “Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. In addition to the raw excitement of Viesturs’s odyssey, No Shortcuts to the Top is leavened with many funny moments revealing the camaraderie between climbers. It is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and his beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

Crown

On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the forty-five original passengers and crew, only sixteen made it off the mountain alive. For ten excruciating weeks they suffered deprivations beyond imagining, confronting nature head-on at its most furious and inhospitable. And to survive, they were forced to do what would have once been unthinkable ... 
This is their story -- one of the most astonishing true adventures of the twentieth century.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (Avon Nonfiction)

Perfection Learning

Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County: 259 Spectacular Outings in Southern California

Explore 259 Memorable Hikes Near Los Angeles, California From short nature trails to challenging peak climbs and breathtaking canyon treks, Los Angeles County is a hiker's paradise. Experience the best of it with this updated edition of the classic hiking guidebook. Local author and hiking expert David Harris and Southland hiking guru Jerry Schad lead you along 259 trips in 33 regions, from the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains to Malibu and on out to Catalina Island. That's virtually every hike worth taking within an hour's drive of thecity. Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County offers a comprehensive collection of hiking adventures for everyone from families with small children to experienced mountaineers seeking the ultimate challenge. The guide encompasses almost all public lands within the county, including Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills, the San Gabriel Wilderness, Crystal Lake Recreation Area, and numerous county and city parks. At-a-glance essential information, including distance, hiking time, elevation gain, and ratings for difficulty, help you to choose the perfect trail. Complete descriptions and driving directions are paired with easy-to-read maps with GPS waypoints to give you the in-depth details you need. So whether you seek solace from the crowds, a cardiovascular workout, or a new perspective of the natural world,Afoot & Afield: Los Angeles County will get you going.

Schad, Jerry

Harris, David

Wilderness Press

Climbing the world's 14 highest peaks

No Shortcuts To The Top

Ed Viesturs with David Roberts

Mountaineering

Books on Tape

Climbing partners Maria Hines, a James Beard-awardwinning chef, and Mercedes Pollmeier, an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist and Level 2 nutritionist, decided that they'd had enough of packaged bars and goos. As a celebrated chef, Hines can make anything taste great, and Pollmeier knows the science behind exercise nutrition. On their long drives to crags an idea blossomed: write a nutrition book for mountain sports. Peak Nutrition details 100 simple and tasty recipes within the context of outdoor goals and body science: motivation, recovery, hydration; how our digestive system works; how food provides energy; effects of weather and altitude; the relationship between food, muscle, and cramping; how nutrition relates to mental and physical stress; and much more. The authors also explore shifting eating habits and ways to develop a healthier approach, whether bouldering, climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, trekking, or trail running. "Peak Profiles" offer food tips from elite athletes such as backcountry boarder Jeremy Jones and climber Sasha Diguilian and sample menus help readers plan what to prep and pack.

Peak Nutrition: Smart Fuel for Outdoor Adventure

Cookbooks, Food & Wine

Hines, Maria

Pollmeier, Mercedes

Outdoor Cooking

Mountaineers Books

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