On Belay!: The Life of Legendary Mountaineer Paul Petzoldt [Hardcover]

Raye C. Ringholz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

An intimate biography of the most cherished -- and controversial -- icon of outdoor leadership in the U.S.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Every mountaineer in the western U.S. has heard of Paul Petzoldt and his pioneering climbs and guide trips in Wyoming's Tetons. Most know of his founding of the highly regarded National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) programs. But even those who know this "mountain original" well will find new information in this wide-ranging biography by one of Petzoldt's former NOLS students.

Ringholz recounts the stories of both Petzoldt's mountaineering exploits (the Grand Teton, the Matterhorn, K2) and his innovations in outdoor education (Colorado Outward Bound, NOLS, Wilderness Education Association). Furthermore, the book provides a wealth of fascinating personal details; you'll marvel at the twists and turns in Petzoldt's adventurous life that resulted from an often-serendipitous combination of economic privation, world events, wanderlust, curiosity, coincidence, and just plain luck.

The book bills Petzoldt as a controversial figure, apparently in two connections--some bizarre events involving a murder charge in India and Byzantine struggles for control over NOLS properties and leadership--and sets out to "correct the record." Because it's an authorized biography, the book may be a bit light on objective analysis of its subject and other conflicting opinions, but nonetheless it's competently done. --Donna DeShazo

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898865581
• ISBN-13: 978-0898865585
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars On Belay - Drops Climber, February 2, 2000

By 

Ross Mc Carty - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Belay!: The Life of Legendary Mountaineer Paul Petzoldt (Hardcover)

This is an average book. It does not capture the true character of this special man. Paul Petzoldt's life would be hard for any writer to summarize. The author should have concentrated on a more detailed introspective of this famous man. Too much writing was centered on certain events that do not actualize his true persona. Yet, the author does reflect a reverance for Paul's achievements that are well deserved. An easy reading book.