Review
Halfway to Heaven is a different kind of mountain climbing book. Unlike
Into Thin Air or
Touching the Void, which feature
well-trained individuals obsessed with the sport,
Halfway to Heaven
relates the exploits of forty-four year old "everyman" and novice climber, Mark Obmascik. The result is an entertaining look at a challenging activity from a
viewpoint to which many of us can relate. This is a book for the weekend
warrior, for all of us who watch mountaineering movies from the safety of our
couches, and for those who dream of attempting feats of athleticism - maybe
tomorrow.
There will be inevitable comparisons between
Halfway to Heaven and
Bill Bryson's
A Walk in the Woods, and for the most part, they're apt.
Both feature middle-age men tackling nature in ways one wouldn't think possible
for...
Beyond the Book
A Beginner's Guide to Mountaineering
Mountain climbing, or mountaineering, is the sport of attaining or attempting
to attain high points in mountainous regions, mainly for the pleasure of the
climb. Before the 18th century, climbing for sport was rare. Humans
did ascend high peaks, but generally only out of necessity or for religious
reasons (many ancient religions such as the Mayans and Greeks built mountaintop
shrines, and it is believed that pilgrims have been journeying to the foot of
Mount Kailash in Tibet since well before recorded history).
The birth of contemporary
mountain climbing came in 1760, when Horace Benedict de Saussure offered prize
money for the first summit of
Mont...
