coldcat 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I was looking at reading some good book that teaches you the knowledge that mountain guides and people like that have. Any recommendations? Link to post Share on other sites
longboardsk8man 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I got stuck on the mountaineering books like into thin air, the climb, touching the void etc (all pretty common i know) Not so much about technical side but gives a good idea on how mentally tough people needed to do big mountains.. Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Mountaincraft and Leadership by Eric Langmuir is the book that is used by Summer Mountain Leadership and Winter Mountain Leadership qualifications in Scotland that are very tough. It is accessible to the general reader, and practical for all year round mountain skills, which may build a better understanading than a more 'glamorous' winter only ski/snow/avalanche book. Link to post Share on other sites
coldcat 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Author Share Posted December 20, 2006 Thanks Ak.It sounds great. Hopefully I'll give it a go if I can find it at a not too expensive price somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites
JPchucky 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I like "Mountaineering" Freedom of the hills, by The Mountaineers Books out of Seattle. It's in it's 7th edition. I actually just bought the newest edition a couple of months ago, and sold my 5th edition for next to nothing. If you would have posted this a couple of months ago I would have gave it to you. It's pretty cheap too, I think it was $30 USD or something. Link to post Share on other sites
JPchucky 0 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Here it is: http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=455 Link to post Share on other sites
dizzy 0 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 also Bruce Tremper. "Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain" by the same publisher. indispensible info in this book, nicknamed the bible of avie books. reading it now for review and more learning Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Second that one by AK, like wise the recommendation of something like Freedom of the Hills, a very good text book. I am a beginner and found it accessible. Oh yes, here is one of my awkwardly long (embarrassing) posts that contains a few references to some concise and practical books. Its also lists some of the basic snow skills I have recently learnt and found useful. These techniques are repeatedly described in mountaineering books. http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/6834.html#000004 Most people (guides) that I spoke to say that the core skills in alpine mountaineering are based on the rock climbing skill set. Thus, to pass as an internationally recognised alpine mountain guide (as opposed top 'just' a ski guide) you need to have a very firm foundation in rock and mountain climbing. In fact, you have to pass exams in those areas to get the guiding certification. This tends to blow the overnight ambitions of most avid skiers out of the water. So if that's what your ambitions are, get a rock climbing book as well, although lot of FOTH is dedicated to rock climbing. Get climbing asap. Link to post Share on other sites
coldcat 0 Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 Thanks eveyone, it seems like there's plenty of reading for me to do now. db le p, thank you for the advice. I haven't actually thought about getting any certification, I just wanted to read a good book for the knowledge I could get and also just for the fun out of reading it. To be honest, I doubt I can ever become a mountain guide, I am the worst person on this planet for knowing directions. I always get lost whenever I drive to a new place, and it takes me 2 or 3 trips to learn the road. No chance for me then I guess Link to post Share on other sites
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