Seven Summits

by Steve Bell (Editor), Dick Bass (Foreword by), Pat Morrow (Foreword by)

Tour the globe and witness spectacular feats of human determination, endurance, and strength. Travel with dedicated mountaineers as they climb the "Seven Summits"—the highest peak of each of the seven continents. Stunning full-color photographs capture the breathtaking scenery and courageous athleticism of the climbers. Essays and diaries of mountaineers, along with striking photos, capture these harrowing adventures and take readers to each of the Seven McKinley (North America), Aconcagua (South America), Vinson (Antarctica), Kilmanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Europe), Kosciuszko (Australia), and Everest (Asia).

Genres: Nonfiction, Mountaineering, Sports, Adventure, Recreation, Climbing, Travel

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[chucklesthescot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that looks at each of the Seven Summits and publishes accounts by several climbers of their experience with it. It features route maps and lots of stunning photography to go along with it. It's a great read for those who love reading about climbing and the stories featured are a mixture of victory, defeat and diisaster.

[Steve Brooker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a rollercoaster of a read.
The achievement is incredible. The work involved, not just the physical endeavour but the organisation and time commitment is unbelievable.
When you see or read about people reaching the big summits of the world, it is always the last stretch that we see. We don’t see the bit where they go up and down between camps lugging the equipment and spend weeks living in campsites.
I also felt however, that one of the reasons such things are beyond the average man on the street is the cost. For at least a third of the book I was thinking of rich folks buying themselves into the record books, which I didn’t want to feel but couldn’t help it.
I’m not sure the Sherpas get the kudos they should either. They are mentioned and even celebrated at times but at other times they are listed as an addendum to a team list of names plus “some Sherpas.” Some Sherpas that made the whole thing possible and have achieved the same (and usually more) than most of the “hero” climbers that go up there.
Still, it was an interesting and enjoyable read on the whole.

[Roseann Cyngier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now here's a book that I really enjoyed reading about climbing expeditions as it tells of those who have climbed to the summits of the highest peaks on each continent. Loved the personal comments from each climber. The photos were stupendous - this would be a good book to just look at the pictures; however, the stories are gripping and give insight as to why the climbers climbed, why they went with who they did, and why they chose the routes they did. I recommend this book to be read in several sittings to absorb the comments and beauty of the pictures.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

See: Seven Summits by Dick Bass for longer version of this story.

[Paschalis]

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[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the awesome photos, but did not enjoy the writing. Still, for a "bargain" book, well worth the price for pictures.

[Marla Milligan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are beautiful- the sacrifices these climbers go through to achieve climbing the highest peaks are amazing.

[Lee Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard to put down scary story of the first people to climb the highest mountains on the seven continents. Dick Bass & Frank Wells