The Mountaineer’s Companion

Description

Published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1966, 1st UK Edition, top corner of half-title cut, D/w (slight nicks), Nr. Fine.    Michael Ward (1925-2005) was an English surgeon, mountaineer and expedition doctor on John Hunt’s successful 1953 Everest Expedition.  He also took part in the 1951 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition, expeditions to Makalu and Ama Dablam, and worked with Griffith Pugh on the 1960/61 Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition (The Silver Hut Expedition), where much research was done into high altitude medicine.  He has produced here one of the better mountaineering anthologies with contributions in 9 sections, namely The Nature and Fascination of Climbing, The Springs of Action – The Alps, Climbing in Britain, Chomolungma – Goddess Mother of the Snows, The Rushing Snows: Accidents, Sky Cleaving Mountains – The Himalayas, Men, Other Ranges, and The Secret Mountains.  With illustrations, text drawings and maps, the 115 articles or contributions included are by leading mountaineers and authors of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.