Book Description
One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him home.
It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him.
It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall.
And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that.
What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories.
Download Description
"One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him home. It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him. It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that. What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself. Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories. "
Customer Reviews:
Great Adventure.......2007-10-12
I really like this book, and the story is amazing, moving, and inspiring. I think some people are "reviewing" him as a person, instead of the book. I do think he was a bit irresponsible, but he was also young and an adventurer, without much fear. That's the way he lived. He admits most of that. The story is still great, and i think well-written. I did get bored with some stories of the past adventures, but i think if you're into reading about such things, you will like it. I read over those parts a little quicker, but on a whole, i loved the book, and thought he did a great job, and made some good, moving points.
Digressions Reveal Character.......2007-10-10
While many reviewers are frustrated with the many digressions throughout Aron's work, his discourse on past adventures and history reveal an unsettling mass of information about Aron's character: Aron lacks remorse and takes pride in his recklessness as an adventurer, without respect and humility for the wilderness around him.
Adventurers should have a healthy level of respect for mother nature. The situations in which we willingly place ourselves can be termed by outsiders to be reckless; however, for most adventurers, that is not the case. We go into the situations knowing full well the risks and uncertainty and make prudent decisions.
Aron exhibits none of these characteristics and as he reflects on his past adventures through the book, he notes how this disposition greatly increases the risk to him and those around him. In one story in particular, Aron points out that his disregard for volatile situations nearly cost the lives of those with him and subsequently cost him the relationships he had with them. And most dissappointing about it is that he shows no remorse for that choice.
The book was interesting to read, but I can't tell you how many times it raised my blood pressure. What Aron did by cutting off his arm was astonishing; more astonishing is the fact that it doesn't seem to have matured him in the least.
I have mixed feelings on this one.......2007-09-15
Aron is either very brave or irresponsible, possibly a little of both.
I give this man points for bravery and his thirst for the outdoors, but I found myself shaking my head and rolling my eyes about the things he did.
The book starts out with him stuck in the rock quite early in the book, but after the 2nd or 3rd chapter, he alternates every other chapter to his Present Stuck situation and his stories of hiking around the great outdoors.
I found myself needing to get to the end of the book so i can read about him hacking his right arm off, so the book had me wanting to keep reading. For that it was a good read.
Lessons of Aron: Don't "SHOO" off a bear, don't bring your friends skiing into a Potential Avalanche zone, and never go hiking with out telling friends and family where you are or leaving a map or note at your bike or truck so they can find you.
Oh, I almost forgot, you can drink your own urine for up to 3 days in the wild apparently...haha
I recommend this book, but barely.
Somewhat Boring .......2007-08-31
Throughout the writing, Aron Ralston constantly strays from the actual plot. The book has constant flashbacks to his past adventures become monotonous after the first few chapters. The main storyline of is entrapment was very interesting. The fact that he was able to survive for so long in the Moab desert is nothing short of a miracle. All in all I enjoyed the book, despite some boring chapters that strayed from the point.
Wasted Opportunity.......2007-07-12
The story seems compelling: an unfortunate hiker has his arm pinned by a boulder and must cut off his own arm to rescue himself. It is a terrible thing for anybody to lose part of a limb (indeed, ask any of the many Iraq War casualties), and we like to look for some positive outcome from such a loss. I read this book because I was curious what changes such an experience would cause in one's approach to life. I was left disappointed and angry.
Aron Ralston survived what should have been a life-changing experience, yet came away from it the same arrogant, self-centered boy as before. The reader hopes and prays that the tiresome egotism of the early chapters is simply a literary device, designed to set the stage for Ralston's transformation. Instead, the egotism remains the constant in his life, both before and after his accident.
Although Ralston claims to have had a revelation while pinned behind a boulder -- finally understanding it is not what you have done, but how you have lived -- this revelation is discarded the moment he survives. Once healthy again, Ralston returns to stupid, dangerous activities (e.g., solo winter ascents) with no consideration for those he loves. He has learned nothing. He was given the opportunity to make a major change in his life. He ignored the chance to mature and act responsibly, and returned to reckless behavior that only puts his family and friends at risk of heart ache.
Ralston begins his story by documenting his many stupid mistakes that almost cost him his life. He makes winter ascents of Colorado peaks without spare outer gloves. He pushes himself to the point of hallucinating, putting himself and his partner at risk. He goes solo canyoneering and mountain biking without a first aid kit. He ignores advice of a park ranger and goes hiking in inappropropriate snow conditions, and almost is attacked by a bear. He puts himself and friends at risk skiing in areas with a high risk of avalanche. Despite his supposed training in search and rescue, his ignores the first rule (always let somebody know where you are going and when you should be back). Yet, Ralston seems baffled when his mother doesn't want to hear the details of his latest in a long series of scrapes with death. Perhaps she cares about him. Perhaps she wonders why he insists on always doing things the dangerous way. Perhaps she wonders how he can do these things to her.
There are many ways to immerse one self in the great outdoors, and there are many ways to test one self. Many a young person has thought that placing themselves in life-threatening situations is the ultimate test. Luckily, most of us outgrow this stage. We start to recognize the value of life. We start to recognize the devastation that our deaths would have on our family and friends. We mature.
There are many, many skilled mountaineers in Colorado. Many have the requisite skills to complete solo winter ascents, but most forego the activity because it is stupid. There are too many variables, and the odds of dying are too high. Ralston fancies himself a Super Man because he is dumb enough to go on winter solo ascents. Despite repeated narrow escapes, it never occurs to Ralston that he is being cavalier with his life, the lives of his friends, and the emotions of his family and friends.
The baffling thing about Ralston's history is that he never matured. He had plenty of occasions for reflection, and he had friends endeavoring to change his perspective. Yet, he continued on his own little self-centered journey. He wanted to be bigger than life, no matter what the cost.
Indeed, the bizarre thoroughness of his photo-documentation of his struggle attests to his dreams of grandeur. If he lived, he was going to be famous. If he died, he was going to be a legend. Ralston would have us believe that he was fighting for his life on the hike out, yet he never even considered leaving behind his video camera and digital still camera.
At some point in Ralston's effort to show that he was the prime mover in the many good times with his friends, he recounts making fun of 1980s music. I found this ironic, in that Ralston is the embodiment of the 1980s Me Generation. It is all about Aron, without any consideration for anybody else.
Do not buy this book. To do so is to encourage a reprehensible approach to life. To do so is to reward a selfish little child. To do so is to buy into a false hero. To do so is to support the extreme of self-centeredness. To do so is to cast a foreseeable event (based on poor preparation and a belief of invincibility) as an unavoidable accident. Do not buy this book.
Mr. Ralston was given an opportunity to see the light and to mature, but squandered that chance in exchange for celebrity. If he continues with his solo winter climbing, I fear that he will eventually pay the ultimate price for his contorted self-image and lack of judgment.
Amazon.com
Often considered the mecca of American rock climbing, Utah has almost as many routes as it has inhabitants. This is best reflected in Stewart Green's hefty guide, which weighs in at a whopping 537 pages. Green has indeed taken an admirable stab at rounding up descriptions, photos, and beta for every route worth mentioning. He takes the reader from the remote corners of Castle Valley and the Island in the sky to the oft-traveled crags of Salt Lake's Little and Big Cottonwood canyons. Route descriptions are thorough and easily understood. More importantly, most of the route maps are superimposed over actual photographs to insure that readers actually find the walls they are after. Green emphasizes the use of clean aid techniques and doesn't include routes that don't take clean aid. This is admirable and is aimed at protecting the soft rock of some of the desert climbs.
Book Description
Utah, with its spectacular slickrock canyon country and towering Wasatch Front, boasts a diverse selection of rock climbing areas and routes. With this comprehensive guidebook, climbers can choose from more than 25 areas, including Zion's soaring sandstone big-walls, difficult limestone testpieces in American Fork and Logan canyons, and the fragile desert spires surrounding Moab. Provides detailed maps, cliff topos, route descriptions and beta, and travel and camping information.
Customer Reviews:
Climb On! to the Wonders of Utah.......2000-03-28
Rock Climbing Utah offers the most comprehensive guide to climbing the best rock Utah has to offer. Utah boasts some of the most diverse, beautiful, and bizarre rock formations imaginable. From the granite canyons of the Wasatch, to the lunar-like sandstone of Canyonlands Rock Climbing Utah will introduce you to the most unbelievable experiences in your climbing career. It is difficult to cover such a wide spectrum of climbing routes, ecosystem changes, and skill levels but this guide does a wonderful job. For a broad overview of underrated climbing that often rivals Yosemite, this guide is difficult to match.
Book Description
Covers popular winter routes from Bear River Mountain to the Wasach Range.
Customer Reviews:
Ice for all.......2004-10-29
I find the book to be compeling even to the beginners. Not only for ice climbers, but hikers during the summer to go to these places and enjoy the beauty and the overwhelming intrige for winter's ice to crystalize.
Book Description
The Colorado Plateau encompasses the high desert country of Colorado, New Maxico, Arizona, and Utah. In this fourth volume of Eric Bjornstadt's extraordinary climbing tour of the region, the author documents climbs on the region's spectacular backcountry towers and cliffs. Painstakingly illustrated and with a guide's eye for the fascinating natural history of the region, this book is a must for every Southwestern climber.
Customer Reviews:
Top notch guides.......2007-07-31
Hmm. Surprised no one has reviewed this guide. Continuing in his series of Desert Rock guides, #4 is a gem in it covers many areas overlooked by the first 3. Having known Eric while living in Moab in the late 90's, I know from personal experience how much effort and pride he puts into these books. I would see him on a weekly basis as he dined at Pasta J's (probably still does) regularly. Being a jeep/ruins/gem guide in the area, he was/is familiar with nooks and crannies of the canyons it would take one dozens of years to accumulate-- which is what he has done. He would give us beta on towers, huge crack faces and more that had never been touched. We'd go out and put up first accents. Many were memorable and are in this book and in #3. Some, not so memorable, but always good memories!
Eric strives for the most accurate info he could get. He'd rely on the climbers themselves for route beta, updating the guides meticulously as he went along.
Great work.
You're in for real climbing adventure of your own with this series.
~jr
Average customer rating:
- It doesn't get any better than this
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Climber's Guide to American Fork/Rock Canyon (Regional Rock Climbing Series)
Bret Ruckman
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Climbing Anchors, 2nd (How To Climb Series)
ASIN: 0934641889 |
Book Description
Companion volume to Rock Climbing Utah's Wasatch Range filled with technical details and routes for this region in Utah's mountains.
Customer Reviews:
It doesn't get any better than this.......1999-11-11
Not only is this the only guide book Ive ever seen for these two canyons, but is down right excellent. It gives accurate route descriptions and locations for hundreds of amazing routes. Even the topos are accurate, right down to the # and placement of bolts on most routes.
Book Description
This book compiles the results of 70 years of rock climbing in Utah's Wasatch Range, including Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Lone Peak, and other climbing locales near Salt Lake City. It features detailed topos, route descriptions, difficulty and quality ratings, and accurate location maps. Indexes by route name and rating allow quick access to over 1,500 routes described in this authoritative volume.
Customer Reviews:
Great Beta, throw your old guide away and find new climbs........1998-07-23
It has finally arrived. The bible that everyone in the Salt Lake valley has been waiting for. No, it's not another religious doctrine. It is the guide to the diverse canyons of the Wasatch Range surrounding Salt Lake City, Utah. It's bigger and a whole lot better than the Ruckman's old guide. The guidebook covers all of the canyons that were in the previous guide, plus it covers new developments such as City Creek and Neffs Canyon. The Ruckmans follow the same format they used in their old guide, so don't expect many changes in that department. However, to say that this is only a revised edition is an understatement.
The guide is twice as thick as previous editions and covers almost twice as many routes. It is a little bit more expensive, but it is worth it if you want to find the areas like the Shore Line Crag, Broads Fork and a plethora of new routes throughout the Wasatch. The only shortcoming of the guide is its short mention of the bouldering areas. The guide des! cribes the locations of the bouldering areas but it does not describe any of the routes. This was probably done in order to save space and money but it would be nice for the Ruckmans to pass on some bouldering beta. Overall impression, the guide is an excellent investment and a good excuse to replace your old torn up guide.
Book Description
Maps, topos, and photos combined with written descriptions of over 500 routes, gear lists, and first ascent information, makes this book the most complete guide ever published to these areas.
Customer Reviews:
Desert Rock III.......2001-05-17
Finally, a virtual bible of guidebooks for this infinate land of valleys and cliffs. Eric does a great job with this series. So much info for one book. Countless hours and hours went into these books. This series is one of a Kind!
Book Description
Where-to guide fo technical climbing in National Parks in Utah
Average customer rating:
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Canyon Country Climbs
Katy Cassidy , and
Earl Wiggins
Manufacturer: Pruett Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Mountaineering
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Mountain Climbing
| Mountaineering
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| Books
Rock Climbing
| Mountaineering
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General
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ASIN: 0871087669 |
Customer Reviews:
Get something else, nothing worthwhile here..........2005-06-24
Not well written. Mostly self serving diatribe of what the author thinks people want to read, as opposed to anything remotely considered decent thought.
Buy anything else. Serious. I just saved you money.
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