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 enlarge | Author: Craig Connally
Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $5.00
You Save: $13.95 (74%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 37673
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 0071430105
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.522
EAN: 9780071430104
ASIN: 0071430105
Publication Date: December 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Pub date: 2004. Paperback. Condition: As New. New book with publisher's mark on edge & slight shelf wear. We are a tested and proven company with over 300,000 satisfied customers since 1997. Delivery confirmation on all US orders. Choose expedited shippi
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| Customer Reviews:
A worthwhile read April 28, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I would recommend this book to beginners as it outlines the basics of modern mountaineering in an organized and well thought out manner. The text even covers diet in the mountains from a modern mountaineering perspective.. some of the old school thought briefly mentioned on these topics fits better for longer expedition style treks versus the hybrid, high speed, modern weekend treks becoming more and more popular.
Great book, for experienced climber October 3, 2005
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Get this if you want beta on some advanced and cutting edge techniques. Has alot of solid info on general topics, but there are some techniques recommended that a reader should have adequate experience to evaluate for his/her climbing before implementing.
 Just what I needed! June 24, 2005
17 out of 19 found this review helpful
I've been backpacking for many years and tried to get into climbing at various points in my life. I took rock climbing and snow travel courses and even the Sierra Club's "Basic Mountaineering Training Course". I never felt like I had enough information from these courses to "put it all together". However, when I read this book, I realized that moutaineering can make sense. If you like to know the "whys" as well as the "hows" in doing things, this book will deliver. Many of the author's ideas and techniques are still not widespread which turns the reader of this book into an evangelist of sorts trying to explain to gym climbers, for example, why the Yosemite bowline is a better tie-in than the figure 8 follow-through with a safety knot. Mr. Connally covers a lot of ground in this entertaining book and wisely places "advanced" topics and techniques at the end of the book so a beginner, like me, won't get bogged down (and possibly discouraged). I feel now that I can continue to take courses, go on guided trips and find a climbing partner with more confidence, and finally start a much-delayed climbing career. Now, if only I could find a climbing partner or guide like Craig...
How does this book compare to other similar books? June 23, 2005
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
In my opinion there are three books worth considering if you want to learn modern mountaineering. The options are:
Alpine Climbing by Cosley & Houston
Extreme Alpinism by Mark Twight
The Mountaineering Handbook by Connally
It's hard to tell which one is the best since they all have different perspective.
Mark Twight's book was the original of the series. His book is focused on alpine ice and snow. He doesn't have much information for alpine rock climber but the book is still a very inspiring read. If you're into 24h+ single pushs and hardcore routes, this is your book.
The Cosley & Houston book suits best for people wanting to climb easy mixed routes. Their perspective is on what they do for living, which is guiding classic alpine routes. They teach the European style which is aimed at going fast. If you're a leisure climber not too interested in details about equipment, I'd say this is the book for you.
And finally the Connally book. Well... I could say some things. First of all it should be noted he has done his research on equipment and knots. There is loads of accurate information and some of it might differ from average teaching. This will certainly please the gear freak and engineer. But his accuracy has a downside, too. Sometimes he gets too fixed in his mission like with the nylyn backup loop on a 20kN ring and three piece anchors. Nevertheless, it's a good book. If you're a gear freak or interested in learning the safest techniques, this is your book.
Best Mountaineering Text/Instruction Book Anywhere!!! June 8, 2005
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
As a mountaineer, I am always on the hunt for up-to-date textbooks/instruction books with methods/techniques to make my climbs (Aconcagua/Denali) safer, faster, and more enjoyable. And as an avid reader of just about everything--especially history--I am always on the lookout for a good, entertaining book.
I have collected most of the editions of Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills (FOH), and have found them lame/lacking. Extreme Alpinism (EA) is a big step in the right direction. However, Mark Twight mentions methods/techniques but doesn't explain details--as if the reader ought to know them already. This comes off a little condescending.
There are none of these problems in The Mountaineering Handbook. Craig Connally delivers the very best mountaineering textbook/instruction book on the market and does so with a refreshing wit/good humor that makes it an excellent read. (A textbook/instruction book a good read--imagine that!!) As an experienced mountaineer, I found virtually every chapter to be a wealth of useful and often ingenious information:
-His chapter on knots cuts through outdated crap found in FOH--he trashes the holy-grail figure of eight/water knot, and replaces them with excellent instruction on the Yosemite bowline, butterfly, "beer" knot and munter-mule;
-His rope techniques are right on--especially his treatment of using skinny/lightweight ropes which hardly gets mentioned in other texts;
-His treatment of anchors I think surpasses John Long's excellent books on the subject;
-I like his emphasis on lightweight safety, as opposed to "going naked"--a theme known to be lionized in Twight's earlier days;
-He discusses such cutting edge snow/ice equipment as igloos, pulks/sleds, firngliders, trekking poles, etc., that hardly get mentioned in other texts;
-The chapter on climbing forces documents/explains critical safety issues completely ignored in other texts;
-No other text deals with the "angle of repose" issue, which seems fundamental to dealing with mountain terrain;
-Even the antidotes regarding his Native American Grandfather were great--especially the "ten essentials" discussion!!
-ETC. ETC. ETC.
I was disappointed that Connally--a professed ski mountaineer--did not delve into that subject at all. If skis are new school and snowshoes are old, why discuss snowshoes but not expound on skis?? Right now, there really isn't any good texts on ski mountaineering on the market--perhaps this could be his next project (or a whole chapter in an updated edition). Also, I ordered the book through Amazon, got one with misprinted/blank pages in places, returned it for exchange and got the same thing. Apparently, there has been some quality problems at the printers--certainly not Connally's fault.
Now if the climbing community can weasel Connally and Climbing Magazine's illustrator Mike Clelland to collaborate on a second edition with that added chapter on ski mountaineering, what more can an aspiring mountaineer ask for??
If you buy one textbook on mountaineering, this is it.
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