Discover the extraordinary journey of Ed Viesturs in 'No Shortcuts to the Top', a gripping memoir that chronicles his relentless pursuit to conquer the world's most formidable 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. This national bestseller takes you into the heart of extreme mountaineering, revealing the challenges, triumphs, and life-altering decisions faced by one of the most respected climbers in history. With 384 pages of riveting narratives, Viesturs shares not only his harrowing climbs but also insightful life lessons learned at altitudes where few dare to tread. Written with heartfelt honesty, this book isn't just for climbing enthusiasts; it's a motivational guide for anyone daring to chase their dreams against all odds. Learn about the risks, the fears, and the undeniable beauty found in both nature’s majesty and human resilience. With a compelling mix of personal storytelling and technical climbing wisdom, 'No Shortcuts to the Top' is an absolute must-read for adventurers, mountaineering fans, and those captivated by real-life sagas of courage. Shipping is fast and reliable, ensuring your copy arrives promptly, ready to inspire. Get your trade paperback edition and join Ed Viesturs on an unforgettable journey to the summits, and beyond.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780767924719
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2008
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Pages: 384


Description:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER . This gripping and triumphant memoir from the author of The Mountain follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.

"From the drama of the peaks, to the struggle of making a living as a professional climber, to the basic how-tos of life at 26,000 feet, No Shortcuts to the Top is fascinating reading."-Aron Ralston, author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place and subject of the film 127 Hours

For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing's holy grail- to stand atop the world's fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory." It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's