Ed Viesturs - Superman!

[ODB]

This is the site for Ed Viesturs final climb on Annapurna. The last of 14 8,000 meter peaks, all without bottled oxygen. Pretty cool reading.

Ed Vieturs

[Kaiser]

The guy is incredible. After his exploits on Everest during the infamous bad season, I picked up David Brashears' book 'High Exposure' which chronicled just how strong a climber Ed is. From the movie 'Everest', I remember his wife Paula saying that they would go out on a 4 hour mtb ride, and she would consider it a workout, and he would consider that a warmup.

PS: If Ed is Superman, what is Reinhold Messner?

[ODB]

Messner was awesome too. Unfortunately he will always be hounded by the controversy surrounding the death of his brother.

Yeah, I read High Exposure, probably needs a reread. I keep meaning to get 'Everest' on DVD! I also want "Touching the Void' on DVD. I haven't read a good mountaineering book in a while. Heard of any new ones I should check out?

[Kaiser]

I'm not up to speed. Last one I read was 'High' an edited collection of accounts of scaling some of the highest peaks. I have seen both movies you mentioned - TTV is grueling to watch, you become so engrossed in the story. Even my wife liked it, and I thought she wouldn't.

I think Messner still holds the speed record up and down Everest, no? Something like 13 hours from base camp. Insane!

[Mountain_marc]

I haven't read a good mountaineering book in a while. Heard of any new ones I should check out?

I kind of stay away from new mountaineering books. The new ones are always by status seeking socialites who climbed Everest by holding someone's hand to the top and not very interesting. Although Left for Dead by Beck Weathers was a decent read.

A few of my favs, in case you haven't read them:
-The Climb up to Hell by Jack Olsen, about an 1957 ill-fated expedition on the Eiger

-Enduring Patagonia by Gregory Crouch, about one man's obsession with Patagonia

-Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber by Mark Twight, a very intense boook, probably my favorite. A collection of short stories from one of the world's premier alpinist. Highly recommended!

[ODB]

I've read left for dead. It moved me a bit.

The only other one you listed that I've heard of is Kiss or Kill. I would like to check that one out.

Have you read Goran Krupp's book Ultimate High? About riding his bike from Sweden to Everest, climbing it unsupported and then riding back. That was extreme! I highly recommend it.

[Mountain_marc]

I haven't read it yet. A friend of mine owns it, so one day i'll get around to reading it. I heard it's really good.