“The first time we came here I didn’t know what to expect,” she told me as we paddled upstream. “What we found just blew me away. Jaguars, pumas, river otters, howler monkeys. The place was like a Noah’s Ark for all the endangered species driven out of the rest of Central America. There was so much life! That expedition was when I first saw the macaws.”As a young woman, Sharon Matola lived many lives. She was a mushroom expert, an Air Force survival specialist, and an Iowa...

A “provocative, highly original” profile of Mount Rainier—capturing the majestic beauty and deadly allure of one of the largest active volcanoes in the U.S. (Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air)Mount Rainier is one of the largest and most dangerous volcanoes in the country, both an awesome natural monument and a formidable presence of peril. In The Measure of a Mountain, Seattle writerBruce Barcott sets out to grasp the spirit of Rainier through...

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The epic account of the storm on the summit of Mt. Everest that claimed five lives and left countless more—including Krakauer's—in guilt-ridden disarray.**“A harrowing tale of the perils of high-altitude climbing, a story of bad luck and worse judgment and of heartbreaking heroism.”—**PeopleA Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of the Last 30 Years

**Written by experienced climber Nick Heil, Dark Summit is both a riveting account of a notorious climbing season and a troubling investigation into whether the pursuit of the ultimate mountaineering prize has spiraled out of control."A dramatic story, ably and convincingly told . . . A chilling look at the precarious line between success and tragedy."—Kirkus Reviews**On May 15, 2006, a young British climber named David Sharp lay dying near the top of Moun...

Two Years Before the Mast is a powerful and immersive narrative that offers a firsthand account of life at sea during the early 19th century. Written by Richard Henry Dana Jr., this classic work blends autobiography, adventure, and social commentary, providing readers with a vivid and authentic glimpse into the harsh realities of maritime life. The story begins when Dana, a Harvard student forced to leave his studies due to failing eyesight, makes the bold decision to join a merchant ship ...

Two members of a team who descended into the Huautla cave complex in Mexico describe their perilous and deadly trek into one of the world's deepest caves.The Huautla in Mexico is the deepest cave in the Western Hemisphere, possibly the world. Shafts reach skyscraper-depths, caverns are stadium-sized, and sudden floods can drown divers in an instant.With a two-decade obsession, William Stone and his 44-member team entered the sinkhole at Sotano de San August...

“An extraordinary life.”—The New York Times Book Review“A fitting homage to one of the great outdoor extremists.”—Kirkus ReviewsLegendary climber Scott Fischer found in Mount Everest a perfect landscape for his fearless spirit. Scaling the world’s highest peak tested his skills, his courage, and his endurance. His legendary final expedition—and its tragic outcome—are portrayed in Everest, the 3-D ...

Shortlisted: 2016 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain LiteratureShortlisted: 2016 Banff Mountain Book Competition'It's the classic of post-war mountain writing.' – Jim Perrin'Rarely do I encounter a cannot-put-down book, but Simon McCartney's aptly titled The Bond is exceptional in many ways.' – Tom HornbeinSimon McCartney was a cocky young British alpinist climbing many of the hardest route...

For animal lovers, nature enthusiasts, and the vast readership for gripping true-life stories, this African saga is a must-read adventure. It chronicles the unique Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Namibia, where Marieta van der Merwe and her family, former wealthy cattle farmers, have sold land to buy and care for embattled wildlife. We meet Sam, the "AIDS" lion infected by mistake at a vet clinic. Boerjke, a baboon with epilepsy and Down syndrome. Savanna, the one-eyed lioness. And Marieta v...

For twenty years Dan O’Brien struggled to make ends meet on his cattle ranch in South Dakota. But when a neighbor invited him to lend a hand at the annual buffalo roundup, O’Brien was inspired to convert his own ranch, the Broken Heart, to buffalo. Starting with thirteen calves, “short-necked, golden balls of wool,” O’Brien embarked on a journey that returned buffalo to his land for the first time in more than a century and a half.Buffalo for the Broken Heart is at...

It takes forty days to know the mountain.Each spring, over eight hundred climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. The conditions are challenging, and without warning can become life-threatening. Some make it to the top of what is considered the world’s most majestic mountain, but others are not so lucky, and in the attempt to reach the elusive summit, many more have tragically lost their lives. Not all are recovered, their bodies left to the mountain.In the spri...

Fred Beckey's 100 Favorite North American Climbs is the magnum opus of the greatest American climber of the past century. Fred’s intimate, detailed knowledge of the mountains and climbs he chronicles here create an unparalleled guidebook and must-have for every climber’s bookshelf as well as a great read for any armchair adventurer. Filled with hand-drawn climbing topos, photos, narrative description, side notes and 40 extra climbs of note in each of the eight geographical regions. This ...