Reflections On Mountaineering Third Edition

Written by an avid mountaineer, the poems in Reflections on Mountaineering reveal human reactions to fear and awe, and explore the role of luck, fate, and chance. The poems also deal with the human perception of reality and its underlying nature in the context of the meaning of life itself. Narrative in form, many stories in this eloquent collection are drawn from the author’s life, and some are reflections on the experiences of fellow climbers in general.

Encounter the varied aspects of mountaineering and, more importantly, the feelings evoked by striving for success in both the preparation required for mountaineering, and in the attainment of its goals.

“...This collection of poems perfectly encapsulates Goldman’s obvious deep awe and reverence of the mountains...one truly feels present with Mr. Goldman, as he climbs both the physical and emotional mountains in front of him... ...The moral questions and dilemmas Goldman grapples with within his journey are applicable to both climbers and non-climbers alike, making this collection a worthwhile read to all.” ~ Theresa Kadair, Portland Book Review “No reader will look at the mountainous scenery or photography of mountain subjects in quite the same way after reading these poems.” ~ Joan Kirschner, IndieReader. “Goldman does a truly wonderful job of presenting these eye-opening, awe-inspiring peaks and mountains in a completely new way with wonderful use of vocabulary.” ~ Alex Telander, San Francisco Book Review “Alan Goldman reaches new heights with the second, revised, and expanded edition...with new poems and old to deliver a powerful collection of verses to inspire the imagination.” ~ Maileen Hamto, Seattle Book Review “A truly thoughtful and beautifully written collection of poetry which captures both the author’s vivid imagery and the beauty of nature all at once” ~ Anthony Avina, Pacific Book Review

This book features rare, once-thought-lost photos of the 1968 first ascent of the California Route on Cerro Fitz Roy, the third ascent of the mountain. With accompanying retrospective essays. Climbing Fitz Roy,1968, presents photo documentation of the climb, places it in the social and climbing context of the times, and reflects how this momentous trip influenced the lives of those involved, and in a greater context, the lives of so many others.

The best climbers in the world offer reflections on reaching the summit of Everest for the 60th anniversary of the first ascent. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first ever to set foot on the highest point on earth: the summit of Everest. It was a magical moment. Since then many men and women have striven to reach the top of this awesome mountain, which can be at once beautiful and mystical, unpredictable and highly dangerous, never straightforward and always incredibly tough. In this timely and remarkable book, published to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the original ascent, mountaineers from all round the world tell what motivated them to make their own summit bids. They highlight how it felt to reach the top and the impact it made on them, ranging from practical comments to spiritual reflections, to philosophical statements on the future of our planet, including contributions from climbers such as: Chris Bonington, Alan Hinkes, Eric Simonson, Reinhold Messner, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, Bear Grylls, Greg Mortimer, Junko Tabei, Peter Hillary, Doug Scott and Stephen Venables. Not only is this a fascinating and insightful collection to mark more than half a century of the highest adventure, it is also an inspiration to any one of us when we contemplate heroic achievements of our own -- whatever they may be.

Qian Qianyi's Reflections on Yellow Mountain is a close examination of travel writing in seventeenth-century China, presenting an innovative reading of the youji genre. Taking the 'Account of My Travels at Yellow Mountain' by the noted poet, official andliterary historian Qian Qianyi (1582-1664) as his focus, Stephen McDowall departs from traditional readings of youji, by reading the landscape of Qian's essay as the product of a complex representational tradition, rather than as an empirically verifiable space. Drawing from a broad range of materials including personal anecdotes, traditional cosmographical sources, gazetteers, Daoist classics, paintings and woodblock prints, this book explores the fascinating world of late-Ming Jiangnan, highlighting the extent to which this one scholar's depiction of Yellow Mountain is informed, not so much by first-hand observation, as by the layers of meaning left by generations of travelers before him. McDowall includes the first complete English-language translation of Qian Qianyi's account, and presents the first full-length critical study to appear in any language. The ideas explored here make this book essential reading for scholars and students of late imperial Chinese history and literature, and also offer thought-provoking new insights for anyone interested in travel writing, human geography, the sociology of tourism, and visual culture.

We come to crossroads at different stages in our lives, experiencing disappointments, sorrow, and setbacks as well as victories, joy, and celebrations. As we confront turning points, mountains emerge on the horizon and beckon us to climb them. Whether we go through moments of rejoicing or lamenting we have a choice. We can turn back, do nothing, or move forward and upward. Defining moments have the potential to transform our lives-personally, professionally, and spiritually. Timeless messages whisper to us. If we listen carefully, we receive the wisdom to learn and grow and the courage to press on. Step into the high country to reflect...