AAC Press
Since its inception, The American Alpine Club has placed an emphasis on promoting awareness of mountain and polar environments through various scientific and narrative publications. The AAC Press is among the most respected publishers of mountaineering books in the world, with an extensive selection of mountaineering narratives, guidebooks, and journals.
AAC members receive complimentary annual copies of both The American Alpine Journal and Accidents in North American Mountaineering (a retail value of $45). In addition, members receive a 20% discount on the purchase of any AAC Press books.
As part of a marketing and distribution arrangement with The Mountaineers Books, the largest publisher of mountaineering titles in the world, AAC members also receive a 20% discount on the purchase of any title published by The Mountaineers Books when ordered directly. Be sure to give them your membership number to receive your membership discount.
Orders of AAC Press books by both members and non-members can be placed online at www.mountaineersbooks.org or by phoning 800.553.4453. You can obtain a copy of the current catalog by phoning the toll-free number listed above.
Catalog of Recent and Classic AAC Press Books
The Himalayan Database: The Expedition Archives of Elizabeth Hawley
by Richard Salisbury
Expeditions are influenced by an abundance of reference materials that detail the histories of past successes, but lack quantifiable data to vital questions. What route has the highest success rate? What route has the highest death rate? Since the first American Everest expedition in 1963, Elizabeth Hawley has kept meticulous track of these details. The database contains information on the mountaineering peaks of Nepal, on the expeditions that have climbed in Nepal or on its border peaks, and on all the members of those expeditions. A table includes literature references to the expeditions. The program is a Microsoft Visual Foxpro application and is compatible for both PC (Windows 9x, ME, NT, 2000, XP) and Mac. www.himalayandatabase.com.
Ways to the Sky
by Andy Selters
Winner of the "Mountaineering History Award" at the 2004 Banff Mountain Book Fesitval
Winner of the "History/Biography" Category at the 2004 National Outdoor Book Award Competition
Ways to the Sky charts the evolution of alpine climbing in the United States, Canada and Mexico. As with its predecessors in the historical guidebook series, Ways to the Sky combines historical narrative with copious photographs-some previously unpublished-and route information for more than 40 historically significant routes to create a unique collector's piece. Ways to the Sky brings the rich history of North American mountain ascents to life, highlights key personalities and climbs, then points readers to the mountains where they can experience firsthand many of these historically significant routes. Selters, a long-time mountaineer, mountain guide, photographer and cartographer, has climbed extensively in North and South America and has established new routes in Pakistan and Nepal. He is the author of The Mount Shasta Book and Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue. 352 pages, 365 photos, $24.95.
Arctic Superstars
by William Lowell Putnam
A thoroughly researched account of the fascinating lives and harrowing journeys of Aldophys Washington Greely and George Wallace Melville, career military officers and Civil War heroes who explored vast reaches of the Arctic during the early 1880s. Greely was best known for commanding the ill-fated Lady Franklin Bay Expedition - which set a then-record in the race to the North Pole but turned into a desperate fight for survival - and Melville for exploring the bitter-cold reaches of Siberia and other remote areas of the Arctic. 320 pages, 64 b&w photos, paperbound, $19.95.
Ascent: The Climbing Experience in Word and Image
Edited by Allen Steck, Steve Roper, and David Harris
For three generations of American climbers and mountaineers, Ascent has represented the literary and photographic pinnacle of creative self-expressing. This fourteenth issue, which is edited by legendary Yosemite climbing pioneers Allen Steck and Steve Roper and former Canadian Alpine Journal editor David Harris, contains the full spectrum of climbing writing, photography, and art. 328 pages, 22 color photos and 9 color illustrations, 142 b&w photos and 26 b&w illustrations, paperbound, $24.95.
Wild Snow: A Historical Guide to North American Ski Mountaineering
By Lou Dawson
Meticulously researched history of ski mountaineering combined with route descriptions of 54 "must-do" ski and snowboard descents in the United States and Canada, from New Hampshire's Mount Washington to Alaska's Mount McKinley. The paperbound edition contains a revised chapter on the Northeast, including a never-before-issued topo of all routes in Tuckerman Ravine. Part of the American Alpine Book Series of historical guidebooks. Hardcover edition is 312 pages, 214 b&w photos, 10 maps, $40.00. Paperbound edition is 328 pages, 239 b&w photos, 11 maps, $24.95.
Stone Crusade: A Historical Guide to Bouldering in America
By John Sherman
Winner of the 'Special Jury Mention' at the 1995 Banff Mountain Book Festival Stone Crusade unveils the soul of American bouldering. John Sherman traces bouldering's history, profiles the participants, shows the geographic and geologic diversity of the nation's bouldering meccas, and shares stories formerly told only around the campfire or in the bars. Revised in 1999 to include a bouldering rating chart and an afterword, as well as new photos. Hardcover and paperbound editions are 336 pages, 159 b&w photos, and 8 maps. Hardcover, $40.00; paperbound, $30.00.
Gentle Expeditions: A Guide to Ethical Mountain Adventure
By Bob McConnell
The onslaught of climbers and trekkers to the highest mountains in the world has prompted a growing concern about the fragility of both ecosystems and indigenous cultures. This "how to" guide by a past chair of the AAC's International Conservation Committee not only identifies problems, but shows how proper planning can leave the mountains intact. 128 pages, 15 b&w photos, paperbound, $10.00.
High Alaska: A Historical Guide to Denali, Mount Foraker and Mount Hunter
By Jonathan Waterman
Lively, anecdotal stories from the turn of the century to modern-day climbs on the three great Alaskan peaks: Denali (Mount McKinley), Foraker, and Hunter. Supplemented by crisp Bradford Washburn photographs of climbing routes, and numerous historical photos from original climbers. 398 pages, 128 b&w photos, 10 maps, paperbound, $26.00.
Surviving Denali: A Study of Accidents on Mount McKinley
By Jonathan Waterman
Through former mountaineering ranger Jonathan Waterman's analysis of unfortunate victims on Denali, the book provides both compelling reading and invaluable advice for all cold mountains. 288 pages, 46 b&w photos, tables, paperbound, $20.00.
For a complete list of AAC Press books, please call The Mountaineers Books at 800.553.4453 and request a current catalog.