From biography and photography, through training and psychology, to a broad selection of top quality rock and hill guides, lovers of mountain books have had plenty to celebrate over the last 12 months. Staff here at UKC/UKH pick their personal favourites.
Natalie Berry - UKC Editor
The Climbers
by Jim Herrington (Mountaineers Books) £40
Best suited to: anyone with an appreciation for climbing and mountaineering history and photography, or even non-climbers who enjoy historical photo-books.
Jim's passion for climbing, its history and his personal interest in the book's subjects shines through in his articulate introduction and in the black and white portraits, which are shot exclusively on silver nitrate. Alex Honnold's foreword adds a modern perspective on the feats of the 'ripened mortals' as a rock star of our time, whilst Greg Child's scholarly essay adds historical context and some personal anecdotes about the featured veterans. A stunning exploration of achievement, ageing and mortality, but above all - of climbing and life.
- Winner of the Mountaineering History Prize and the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Book Festival, 2017
- Read our UKC Digital Feature on Jim and the book here
Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka
by Bernadette McDonald (Vertebrate Publishing) £24
Best suited to: lovers of biography, climbing history fans and those interested in Eastern European climbing exploits.
The Push
by Tommy Caldwell (Penguin Books) £14.99
Dan Bailey - UKH Editor and Gear Editor
Scrambles in Snowdonia
by Steve Ashton, updated by Carl McKeating & Rachel Crolla (Cicerone Press) £14.95
Highland Scrambles South
by Iain Thow (SMC) £25
The Last Hillwalker
by John Burns £9.99 paperback or £3.99 Kindle
Theo Moore - Advertising Manager
Mastermind
by Jerry Moffat (Cafe Kraft) £29.95
Climbing Beyond
by Caroline Ciavaldini and James Pearson (Aurum Press) £25
Rob Greenwood - Advertising Manager
The Magician's Glass
by Ed Douglas (Vertebrate) £14.95
Southern Sandstone Climbs
by Daimon Beal (Rockfax) £34.95
North Wales Bouldering
by Simon Panton (Ground Up) £36.95
Alan James - UKC Odd Jobs Man
Photographing the Peak District
by Chris Gilbert and Mick Ryan (fotoVUE) £27.95
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