Bøker av Richard Sale

In 1970 a German-Austrian-Italian (South Tyrolean) team succeeded in climbing the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat, a climb which heralded a new era in mountaineering on the worlds highest peaks. But with success cam controversy as the first climbers to reach the summit, two young South Tyrolean brothers, did not return to the top face camp but descended the other side, the Diamir side, of the mountain. Only one brother survived the ordeal: he was Reinhold Messner who went on to become the greatest, and best known, high-altitude climber in the world. His brother Gunther was lost on the mountain. Before descending the Diamir side Reinhold Messner held a shouted conversation with the members of the second pair of climbers heading for the summit. That conversation, the decision to descend the Diamir side, and the circumstances of Gunther Messers death were to lead to controversy, claim and counter claim, and court cases. They were also to lead to bitterness between former team mates which continues to this day. This book explores the events of 1970, drawing on contemporary diaries and other records, on later interviews given by, and books written by, the team members, and on private conversations with some of the surviving team members. It draws heavily on the writings of Reinhold Messner who has published several accounts of the summit climb and the decisions which led to the descent of the Diamir side, accounts which have varied over the years, variations that suggest a story behind the story.

This is a celebration of the Arctic wilderness by an acknowledged expert. It features the wildlife that lives there - the terrestrial and marine mammals, the birds, insects and plants. Also considers the threats from global warming and the exploitation of Arctic resources.

This book looks at the development of climbing on the world''s highest mountains - the 14 whose summits stand above the 8000 metre contour. Though concentrating on the new millennium, from 2000 to 2011, with an epilogue on 2011, the book also covers the first ascent of the mountains, and the new routes climbed between the first ascent and 1999. A sequel to "On Top of the World", published in 2000 which dealt with the discovery and early climbing history of the mountains, the book also uses new material which has come to light over the last decade to re-appraise the first ascents on Annapurna, Broad Peak and K2. Illustrated with stunning images for the new routes established during the new millennium, the book also includes archival shots from the early history of the mountains. These archival shots include first ascent shots from two of the mountains which had not been made available for the earlier book. The book is completed with data on the mountains provided by co-author Eberhard Jurgalski, who maintains the world''s most up-to-date database on these (and other) mountains. The data include all climbers who have summitted all 14 mountains (a figure which now stands at an astonishing 28) as well as those who are nearing the complete set. Sadly some of the latter have died in the attempt and will never achieve their goal.

K2 is a legend - one of the most demanding mountaineering challenges in the world and one of the most treacherous. Extreme, unpredictable weather and the acutely difficult climbing conditions test the technique, endurance and psychological strength of the most experienced mountaineers to the limit and often beyond.