The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer

by David Roberts

Book Overview

Before his 30th birthday, Bradford Washburn was already a legendary mountaineer, completing four major first ascents on his way to becoming the greatest mountaineer in Alaskan history. Soon after, Washburn took over the creaky New England Museum of Natural History, which by his retirement in 1980, had become the renowned Boston Museum of Science. Washburn (19102007) was also an innovative cartographer as well as a self-taught photographer whose aerial...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061560944
• ISBN13: 9780061560941
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Driven Mountaineer

Author David Roberts gives a thorough and fascinating examination of mountaineer Bradford Washburn from his childhood in Massachusetts to his travels around the globe. Washburn was born into a life of plenty, never wanting even through the Great Depression. He was properly schooled and initially not much of an athlete, but his love of mountaineering overtook his life. Beginning in the Presidential Range of New Hampshire and countless climbs of Mt. Washington, Washburn is shown to have a natural affinity to the mountains, be it summer or winter. At an early age he was exploring the Alps, outpacing event the most experienced of climbers. Roberts describes some of the harrowing experiences Washburn and his companions endeavored, most notably in Alaska, where gigantic glaciers, changing moraines, raging rivers and relentless weather tested their abilities. Throughout the book, stories of friendships bonded and tested by accomplishments and setbacks set the motif. Indeed, Washburn was an individualist, but rallied many famous fellow mountain climbers to set records (or `bag' peaks). He was among the first of many to climb McKinley (twice; his second wife being the first woman), K2, Everest and many others. Washburn was also an expert photographer, often balancing heavy photography equipment at the open door of a small airplane to photograph the highest and wildest of peaks in Alaska, noting various routes that would make climbing safer and faster. He was one of the first to use planes to drop food and supplies along a climbing route to ensure the best of gear was available. Also an expert cartographer, Washburn was able to map many areas, including the then unknown St. Elias area in Alaska and large portions of the Grand Canyon. Much of his climbing was financed through the National Geographic Society which was always a tumultuous marriage. However, it was the NGS that received the greater of the goods. After many years we read that Washburn also became director of the prestigious Museum of Science in Boston. The book also includes many harrowing stories of being stranded in weeks-long snowstorms, treacherous climbing attempts and the tragedy of many lives lost or ruined on mountain climbs. Washburn lost many friends in accidents, including his first wife in a sad plane incident. Sometimes the reader wonders what drives the obsession of this mountain climber. There is no great search for the inner workings of Washburn here nor much examination of his personality. The author did meet Washburn, but much of the biography is told from other writings and accounts. In the end, Washburn accumulated eleven honorary doctorates along with his own degree from Harvard, a great contributor to the National Geographic Society and his own Museum of Science. Washburn led a fascinating long life and the stories are breathtaking. But there is a lost feeling about his character, as you feel like with all you read about this amazing mountaineer, you n

"The Last of His Kind - The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountanieer"

David Roberts has written a lot of mountaineering books, and I mean a lot. In this book alone, there is a list of 20 others, and if they're all as good as this one, then he's one heck of a writer. This is the first book I've ever read by him, and I must say, it's made me interested to read more, and I'm not even that into mountain climbing, just picked this up on a whim. This particular work is about the Alaskan mountaineering career of one, Brad Washburn. Sure, there are a few other areas covered, but that is the main focus of this book. I've noticed that a good number of reviewers have had a problem with this, that it is not a full biography, and that it should have been. I however disagree, seeing as how the book still touches on plenty of aspects about Bradford's life that have a prominent dealing with his career and are equally interesting. This is what the author wanted to do and I feel that he has succeeded in having a good balance of both aspects of Brad's life. Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was that you get a lot of interview segments, letters, and the like from Brad in addition to the text by Roberts. And they're both interwoven in a way that they never feel out of place, or repetitive. David also really talks up the photos Brad has taken throughout his career, and I'm sure they are wonderful and would really like to see them. But alas, I got an advanced reading copy, so I haven't seen them yet, although in the finished edition, there will be 15 pages of black and white photos. To sum things up, if you have even a remote interest in mountaineering, you will be very interested in this book, highly recommended!

Such Exciting Adventures You Just Have to Read About!

I can only dream about experiencing the kind of adventures Bradford Washburn has had. The excitement, the discoveries, the surprises, the dangers. While my outdoor adventures are limited to hiking already discovered trails I do adore true stories of those who have foraged new trails, scaled peaks of the highest mountains, explored untouched territory, and risked life and limb to do so. David Roberts has allowed me to experience wilderness and mountain adventures along with Bradford Washburn, at least in my mind, as he took me to the edge where the earth meets the sky. I could feel the cold, the fear, the pain, the hunger, the joy, sensing the danger, and the exhilaration that come with such daring adventures. Roberts has the uncanny ability to describe things so well I could swear he was running a video feed through my brain. "The Last of His Kind" is something an armchair wilderness and mountain explorer, like me, must read. I am left wishing I could scale Everest, K2, and all those other impressive towering peaks. When my good friend and I scale those much smaller mountains, via already forged and well worn trails, we always ask each other, "Where are OUR Sherpas?" As I finished the book I was left saying, "Wow!"

Very detailed...

The author has done a lot of research for this book and not only tells about the life of Bradford Washburn (which is fascinating enough), but he throws in all kinds of other information. He tells of other known mountain climbers, information about the mountains themselves, deaths caused by climbing, etc. There is a lot of information about Washburn's early life also. He was climbing mountains even as a child and was making a name for himself by the time he was in his teen years. He also had some adventure books published while he was still very young and and lectured all over the place while he was still in college. As a child he was a slow learner in school but he did well at Harvard. When he was 24, he led a 3 month journey into the largest remaining unexplored territory in North America, the 6, 400 square miles of glaciers and mountains in Alaska's Saint Elias Range. He was also a great photographer and map maker as well as running the Museum of Science in Boston. The author tells of his home life also and how his wife almost died. Washburn died in 2007 and was considered the greatest mountaineer in Alaskan history. A fascinating read!

Last of His Kind/ Bradford Washburn

A wonderful read. This could be read more than once and a I believe you would keep finding more details you overlooked. Was kind of disappointed that the pictures he took weren't in this copy... but the book is now for sale and I did see them. What great photography. I have passed this book on to two different people that do mountain climbing and they also just loved this book. What research that went into this book is awesome.