14 best mountaineers books colorado hikes

Product features

FROM THE INTRODUCTION

The southern half of the state of Utah harbors some of the most phenomenal scenery in the United States. Of this celebrated scenery, Utah’s “Big Five” National Parks—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches—stand out as the “best of the best” where scenic splendor is concerned. And of those five parks, perhaps Zion and Bryce Canyon, closely connected due to their geographic proximity, draw some of the highest praise.

In anthropomorphic terms, Zion is the stern, serious older brother given to a life of devotion. Bryce Canyon is the freewheeling younger brother, given to frivolity and mirth. Taken together, the two parks create one of the most fascinating and unique outdoor experiences in the United States, offering world-class beauty on a scale and scope ranging from quiet intimacy to peculiar amusement to incomprehensible grandeur.

- Scott Turner, author

Product features

Part I, Outdoor Fundamentals

• Chapter 1: First Steps
• Chapter 2: Clothing and Equipment
• Chapter 3: Camping, Food, and Water
• Chapter 4: Physical Conditioning
• Chapter 5: Navigation
• Chapter 6: Wilderness Travel
• Chapter 7: Leave No Trace
• Chapter 8: Access and Stewardship

Part II, Climbing Fundamentals

• Chapter 9: Basic Safety System
• Chapter 10: Belaying
• Chapter 11: Rappelling

Part III, Rock Climbing

• Chapter 12: Alpine Rock Climbing
• Chapter 13: Rock Protection
• Chapter 14: Leading on Rock
• Chapter 15: Aid and Big Wall Climbing

Part IV, Snow, Ice, And Alpine Climbing

• Chapter 16: Snow Travel and Climbing
• Chapter 17: Avalanche Safety
• Chapter 18: Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue
• Chapter 19: Alpine Ice Climbing
• Chapter 20: Waterfall Ice and Mixed Climbing
• Chapter 21: Expedition Climbing

Part V, Leadership, Safety, And Rescue

• Chapter 22: Leadership
• Chapter 23: Safety
• Chapter 24: First Aid
• Chapter 25: Alpine Rescue

Part VI, The Mountain Environment

• Chapter 26: Mountain Geology
• Chapter 27: The Cycle of Snow
• Chapter 28: Mountain Weather

Product features

FROM THE INTRODUCTION

“Stabby plants and kitty litter.” These were the colorful words a hiker used to describe the desert moments before I led a group of desert novices on an introductory hike in Joshua Tree National Park. A few of these hikers had ventured out reluctantly, carrying the burden of preconceived notions about what they would find: a hot, scorched wasteland that wanted nothing more than to hurt them in creative ways. The irony of the hiker’s statement hit home moments later when I led the group into a lush oasis of California fan palms nourished by permanent water sources. We discussed how the desert’s oases harbor a diverse array of wildlife, like seaports on the edge of the Pacific, and how the indigenous peoples from ages long gone cultivated and nourished the oases while benefiting from their abundant resources. In the midst of all that kitty litter, we found a vibrant secret that ultimately turned the desert skeptic into a desert enthusiast.

- Scott Turner, author