HIGH RISK:
CLIMBING TO EXTINCTION
BY BRIAN HALL
Winner of THE PRESTIGIOUS:
BOARDMAN TASKER Mountain Literature AWARD 2022
The Himalayan Club Kekoo Naoroji Award 2022
NEW ZEALAND Mountain Film Festival Best Mountain & Adventure Narrative 2023
Summary
The golden age of Himalayan mountaineering, from the mid 1970s to the ‘80s, brought forth a generation of radical young climbers. With tiny budgets and high ambitions they pioneered light and fast, Alpine-style expeditions on mountains such as Jannu, Nuptse, Everest, and K2.
In High Risk, Brian Hall recalls the outrageous adventures of eleven of his climbing friends who risked, and too often lost, their lives to stand on some of the world’s highest peaks at a turning point in mountaineering history.
The golden age of Himalayan mountaineering, from the mid 1970s to the ‘80s, brought forth a generation of radical young climbers. With tiny budgets and high ambitions they pioneered light and fast, Alpine-style expeditions on mountains such as Jannu, Nuptse, Everest, and K2.
In High Risk, Brian Hall recalls the outrageous adventures of eleven of his climbing friends who risked, and too often lost, their lives to stand on some of the world’s highest peaks at a turning point in mountaineering history.
Contents
Foreword by Joe Simpson
Introduction: What Happened to All my Friends?
1. The Tiger and the Lamb: Return to K2
2. Chance or Fate?: Simon Cochrane
3. Shooting Star: John Syrett
4. Metamorphosis: Alex MacIntyre (Part 1)
5. A Scot on Ice: Mike Geddes
6. The Silver Fox: John Whittle
7. Himalayan Virgins: Roger Baxter-Jones (including Mélanie’s poem)
8. The Snow Leopard: Alan Rouse and Rab Carrington
9. The Survival of the Fittest: Georges Bettembourg
10. A Friend on Everest: Pete Thexton
11. Obsession?: Joe Tasker
12. Intellect and Art: Paul Nunn
13. Lightweight Revolution: Alex MacIntyre (Part 2)
14. Risk and Consequences: Brian Hall and Andy Parkin
15. The End of an Era: Alan Rouse and K2
16. Afterword: The Course of Time
Appendix 1: Winter seasons in mountaineering
Appendix 2: The problems with climbing Everest in winter
Foreword by Joe Simpson
Introduction: What Happened to All my Friends?
1. The Tiger and the Lamb: Return to K2
2. Chance or Fate?: Simon Cochrane
3. Shooting Star: John Syrett
4. Metamorphosis: Alex MacIntyre (Part 1)
5. A Scot on Ice: Mike Geddes
6. The Silver Fox: John Whittle
7. Himalayan Virgins: Roger Baxter-Jones (including Mélanie’s poem)
8. The Snow Leopard: Alan Rouse and Rab Carrington
9. The Survival of the Fittest: Georges Bettembourg
10. A Friend on Everest: Pete Thexton
11. Obsession?: Joe Tasker
12. Intellect and Art: Paul Nunn
13. Lightweight Revolution: Alex MacIntyre (Part 2)
14. Risk and Consequences: Brian Hall and Andy Parkin
15. The End of an Era: Alan Rouse and K2
16. Afterword: The Course of Time
Appendix 1: Winter seasons in mountaineering
Appendix 2: The problems with climbing Everest in winter
Purchase
Available from Vertebrate Publishing as a paperback from October 2023
RRP: £14.95
ISBN: 9781839812156
Originally published by Sandstone Press in 2022. The hardback is now sold out.
Also as an e-Book and Audio Book
A limited number of signed editions will be available from Vertebrate Publishing and Cordee. Please specify when ordering.
Worldwide (e.g. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc) at Amazon
Distributed and available in the USA in November 2022 by Casemate
Also at all good books outlets including:
Waterstones
Amazon
Blackwell's
Bookshop.org
Available from Vertebrate Publishing as a paperback from October 2023
RRP: £14.95
ISBN: 9781839812156
Originally published by Sandstone Press in 2022. The hardback is now sold out.
Also as an e-Book and Audio Book
A limited number of signed editions will be available from Vertebrate Publishing and Cordee. Please specify when ordering.
Worldwide (e.g. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc) at Amazon
Distributed and available in the USA in November 2022 by Casemate
Also at all good books outlets including:
Waterstones
Amazon
Blackwell's
Bookshop.org
Reviews
‘Dazzling adventures recalled with wisdom and affection.’
Stephen Venables, mountaineer and author
‘A riveting insight into a remarkable climbing era.’
Mick Fowler, mountaineer and author
‘A major milestone in Alpine literature.’
John Porter, mountaineer and author of 'One Day as a Tiger'
'A frank, first hand account of a bold, high-octane generation of British climbers.’
Bernadette McDonald, author and climber.
‘High Risk captures the spirit of an era... Ascents not bettered and hardly equalled since.’
Leo Houlding, climber and adventurer
‘Big characters who loved life close to the edge.’
Ed Douglas, author and climber
‘An absolutely spellbinding read.’
Adele Pennington, mountaineer.
‘Dazzling adventures recalled with wisdom and affection.’
Stephen Venables, mountaineer and author
‘A riveting insight into a remarkable climbing era.’
Mick Fowler, mountaineer and author
‘A major milestone in Alpine literature.’
John Porter, mountaineer and author of 'One Day as a Tiger'
'A frank, first hand account of a bold, high-octane generation of British climbers.’
Bernadette McDonald, author and climber.
‘High Risk captures the spirit of an era... Ascents not bettered and hardly equalled since.’
Leo Houlding, climber and adventurer
‘Big characters who loved life close to the edge.’
Ed Douglas, author and climber
‘An absolutely spellbinding read.’
Adele Pennington, mountaineer.