A Most Hostile Mountainn Funnies

by Jonathan Waterman

Book Overview

A Most Hostile Mountain, he gives us his most ambitious book to date, a riveting mixture of high mountain adventure, painstakingly researched history, and homage to a long-dead prince, all told with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805044531
• ISBN13: 9780805044539
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 253 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great travel story

Another brilliant book by Waterman. Even if you aren't interested in mountain climbing this is a fascinating book. Waterman has the ability to reveal his heart and soul in his writing in a very eloquent way. This, combined with his skill at describing the world around him makes for a great book.

The Real Life of Mountaineering

A Most Hostile Mountain was about a mountain climber, the author, who was addicted to mountaineering and alpinism. He had reached the peaks of many Alaskan mountains and was getting settled to climb one last mountain. While on Mt. Fairweather, he spotted the nearby Mt. St. Elias a few miles away. He was captivated by the mountain's beauty and so he decided as the last mountain he would ever climb, he would summit Mt. St. Elias. He needed a partner, so he called up his friend, Jeff, to accompany him to the peak. They packed up their supplies and set off in a yacht to the mountain. Jonathan Waterman also compares his journey with the Duke of Abruzzi's trip. The Duke was the first one to reach the top of Mt. St. Elias, also called Yasetaca, and because of his trip, he made Italy famous. The Duke also traveled by ship to the mountain with his whole team of climbers, this was in the early 1900s, with heavy equiptment and luxuries a climber today would never bring on his or her trip. So as the Duke faces many difficulties on his climb, Jonathan also faces difficulties physically and mentally as well.I thought the book was interesting in the way that I've never read a book that was more like a journal of someone's trip. Also, I never knew that much about mountain climbing before I read the book, but this book taught some important skills in mountaineering. Furthurmore, I like how Jonathan Waterman tells the real truth about people and their weaknesses while in a stressed and uncomfortable condition. The daily routines of a mountaineer is reavealed in this book and I can see why mountain climbing is such a difficult sport and why alpinists are so addicted to this hobby of theirs.My favorite is when Jonathan and Jeff starts to get irritated at each other and accidents starts to happen. For example, when Jonathan mistakened the yellow gaderade bottle as Jeff's kindness towards him, but really, it was Jeff's bathroom wastes. Also, when Jeff and Jonathan first landed on the shores of Yasetaca, the swarm of mosquitos came buzzing at the two climbers and tried to suck the climbers dry. Desperately, Jonathan sets up their tent and so the two victims hide in the tent. Inside, the climbers watch as the mosquitos try to get past the mosquito netting but the bugs get their needles stuck in the holes. Joyfully, Jeff and Jonathan pull the needles off of the mosquitos as the insects continued to struggle. A good book for the reality reader.

provacative and amazingly glib

orginal, provacative, playful . Not the usual for a mountaineering story that could have been a tedious epic. Two different men, 2 different times, two different backgrounds, but one goal in common over the years, elusive St.Elias. Two different ends for two different men. Refreshingly funny at the most unexpected of times.