I Chose to Climb

Description

Published by Victor Gollancz, 1966, 1st Edition, D/w (poor condition with badly repaired long tear across front cover, spine faded and illegible), Book itself V.G.   Sir Christian John Storey Bonington’s first volume of autobiography and also his very first book of 20 now published.  Bonington is perhaps the best-known British mountaineer, having led or taken part in 19 expeditions to the Himalaya, including 4 to Everest.  His first ascents in the Alps include the Bonatti Pillar on the Aiguille de Dru in 1958, the Central Pillar of Freney in 1961 and the North Face of the Eiger (first British ascent) in 1962.  Amongst others, he made first ascents of The Old Man of Hoy (1966), Annapurna II (1960), Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia (1963), Brammah (1973), Changabang (1974) and Mount Kongur (1981).  He led the expedition that made the first ascent of the South Face of Annapurna, the biggest and most difficult climb in the Himalaya at the time. He also led the expedition that made the first ascent of the South West face of Everest in 1975, when Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to summit, and he reached the summit of Everest himself in 1985 with a Norwegian expedition.