Customer Reviews:
 Highly and strongly recommended! December 3, 2008
I would 'strongly' recommend not only the 2008 book but the entire series! The price is right too! And regardless of your level of expertise whether it's rock climbing or Alpine version therein. It reminds me of my aviation interests [the real McCoy albeit SEL "single donkey" Cessna/Piper stuff] in terms of the 'very' popular with the "GA" [General Aviation] crowd, "I Learned About Flying From That" which eventually reached book form and the articles collected under one cover because so much could be 'learned' from the analysis of GA aviation close-calls, "stupendous errors of judgment" [sic] and 'survived' accidents. Or, conversely, with the book in question in this review, climbing accidents of whatever venue. Not to mention the stuff that has been forgotten or all too often filed away or, worse still, certain safety and 'common sense' considerations that can get ignored or put on the proverbial back-burner in the excitement or zeal of the moment. Ring a bell?
True story -- one mountaineering website-master [and an authority on the sport] became so vexed at reporting so 'many' climbers being belayed "off the rope" into a fall [or oblivion therein with 'fatal' results], he wrote in desperation [and I back him 110%] with regard to the rappel belay rope, "Tie a friggin' knot at the end of the rope ... is that so damn hard to remember!" [sic] Or a careless moment of inattention and what the combination of an ice axe and crampons can do or carabiners where no-one notices that the weight is entirely resting on the biner 'gate' and countless other checks that 'should' be done. Ehhh, fess up now, you 'always' wear a helmet, right? And how many times have you read this one as the 'primary' cause of a rappel accident: "Misuse of a grigri" or another classic, "failure to check anchor." You know what I mean! What was it the 'lead' said, "That weather will miss us for sure ... let's keep going!"
This too -- another book [now in its "7th" edition -- 2003 was the last one], "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills" which, IMO, is 'the' mountaineering reference tome [500 pages +] to have on hand! A veritable goldmine of information but the North American 'accidents' series is an excellent adjunct to same and much can be learned. Or, shall we say, re-learned!
Doc Tony
Personal Note! Here's a website free of all advertisements including those annoying dancing GIF's and JPEG's or sales hype a la mode that offers ad free page after page of solid information [including accident assessment scenarios, gear discussion including GPS and map/compass stuff, how-to's, things to avoid [check out why that TV hawked 'space blanket' can actually 'hasten' the demise of a hypothermia victim], assorted you-name-it topics, what's happening here and there from Hood to the Himalayas, links, etc. etc. ] -- traditionalmountaineering.org. [no need to use "WWW"].
Outstanding educational resource October 24, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is the fifth report in this series I've read. It is the best resource for finding out what really hurts, cripples and kills people involved in mountaineering. You may read "On Rope", John Long, Craig Leubben, Craig Connelly, "Freedom of the Hills", etc., to find out what to do correctly, but the ANAM books will provide a strong sense of what can go wrong, when and where procedures should become your friend, and you'll read real case studies of how to avoid problematic issues when in the wilderness or mountainous terrain. Regarding practical mountaineering and climbing, I've learned at least as much from ANAM as I have from any other five titles. I believe it should be required reading for anyone transitioning from gym climbing to real rock. Or for those who seek the freedom of the hills.
 A Prerequisite For Climbing March 1, 1999
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sensational edjucation-the most important way to understand the frequency and causes of climbing misfortune.
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