Continental Divide: A History of American Mountaineering [Paperback]

This is a story of mountains as dreams, of land as destiny, of summits as the pinnacles of all human desire. Wade Davis, A history of American mountaineering that, along the way, tries to discover what prompts the human spirit to seek great heights on earth, often with great exertion, sometimes at great peril&[F]ascinating. Chilling tales of are-you-serious ascents, daredevil traverses, and tragic falls by legendary figures&the enterprising and sometimes foolhardy people who opened Americans eyes to the rigors and rewards which can be found in the worlds high places. Maurice Issermanscholar and historian, engaging storyteller, and a climber of mountains to boothas produced a gem. Maurice Isserman looks at the history of American through the lens of a sometimes misunderstood endeavor& A?thrilling and nuanced history that expands our view of exploration, revealing how mountain?adventures have transformed America. Epic&Maurice Isserman takes us on this journey with equal amounts of meticulously researched facts and understated humor, critical historical context and heartbreaking human stories. The most comprehensive account yet of Americas mountaineering history. Isserman guides us across three centuries of the most significant scrambles and ascents around the world in lively and incisive prose. Maurice Isserman helps us understand why we venture into the inhospitable places we love. This well-researched overview of mountaineering in the United States is essential reading for anyone with a connection to mountains. US