The Mountains Of My Life

The Mountains of My Life collects Walter Bonatti's classic writings detailing his exploits on numerous expeditions to different mountains of the world, as well as the real story behind the controversy over the events on K2 that changed his life. Bonatti is one of the greatest mountaineers of all time, and these awe-inspiring writings capture the adventure, audacity and magnitude of his craft.

• First woman—and only the fourth climber ever—to summit all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen or high-altitude porters • Though the two climbers are friends, Kaltenbrunner’s path to high places has been very different from Edurne Pasaban’s record-breaking feat • Positive, uplifting account of a remarkable athlete Effusive, charismatic, tough, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is one of the world’s most successful high-altitude mountaineers and the first woman to climb all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen——and she also eschews high-altitude porters. Mountains in My Heart covers her early years learning to climb in Austria, her personal life, her training as an oncology nurse, and her ever-present passion for mountains, especially the Himalaya. Her love of being in the mountains shines through in her writing: For Gerlinde the important thing was not the race to be the first woman to climb the 8,000-meter peaks, but rather to experience the mountains and climb them in her self-sufficient style. Self-sufficiency did not, however, mean climbing without her husband, Ralf Dujmovits; in 2009, Lhotse became her twelfth and his fourteenth 8,000-meter peak! Kaltenbrunner shares the challenges, dangers, and euphoria of her high-altitude climbs, detailing medical emergencies and her own feelings about being high in the mountains. Her writing is honest, captivating, and unrestrained.

Colette Keefe brings us an emotional, poignant account of her turbulent childhood in which she was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. Into her adulthood, these traumatic experiences manifested themselves in an array of mental illnesses, including depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When a tragedy strikes, Colette is forced to confront her issues, despite the stigma and shame associated with these misunderstood problems. What begins is a courageous road to healing, which continues today. Her story of reclaiming her life is an inspiration for anyone who has experienced abuse or dealt with mental illness. It is a book about acceptance, forgiveness, and ongoing recovery.

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Hi friends and strangers. I hope you will enjoy reading this book which I have written about my life. You may identify with some of it yourself. Have you been to Bermuda or Vancouver Island? If not dream along with me friends as this story of mine is true. Canada is a great country and as I worked all over it I learned many things, one of which was how we accept each other. Enjoy!