Climbing Back [Paperback]

Mark Wellman (Author), John Flinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

There is almost no limit to what we can accomplish except perhaps in our own minds. That is the message delivered to us by Mark Wellman. Crippled by a mountain-climbing accident, and perhaps further injured by his own impatient action, Mark was faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But, finding strength and hope in his family and friends, he has in turn become an inspiration to millions of people. Mark has designed equipment and developed programs to inspire and motivate others. Climbing Back is the story of Mark's struggle to survive a disabling accident, to bexome a park ranger and an accomplished wheelchair athlete, and ultimately to climb the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome. These ascents regularly challenge the world's best rock climbers. With his glorious dreams, his strong will and determination, and his bold approach to life, Mark Welman challenges all of us to continue to strive toward loftier goals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The story of Mark's heroic ascent of El Capitan and Half Dome is enough to inspire millions." Royal Robbins, First person to climb the face of Yosemite's Half Dome. "Just thinking about Wellman's feat would leave most people with two legs hugging the sidewalk." People Magazine "I know of few athletes strong enough of courageous enough to accomplish what Mark Wellman did in climbing Yosemite's Half Dome with his arms alone." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chairman, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports -- Various

Mark Wellman is a paraplegic rock climber, park ranger, skier, tennis player, and now a writer. Wellman's attitude is what makes his disability so inspiring -- he focuses on ability and the tearing down of false barriers to accomplishments and activities too long denied persons with similar handicaps. Wellman's descriptions of his 24 hours of hell on a mountain side, followed by the struggle to adapt to its physical aftermath, and his refusal to stop living, working, and challenging life is nothing short of inspiring. Ably assisted in the writing by John Flinn (himself a person of first hand experience with the trauma of battlefield injury), Climbing Back is an exciting and engaging addition to any community library collection or physical therapy department's patient reading list! -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 193 pages
• Publisher: Ics Books; New edition edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570340420
• ISBN-13: 978-1570340420
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of adventure, October 27, 1999

By 

David Voelz (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Climbing Back (Paperback)

Mark Wellman lost most of the use of his legs in a mountain climbing fall when he was a young man. This book tells the story of his accident and journey through recovery and development into an elite athlete and outdoor adventurer. It is an adventure story that not only includes exploits such as Wellman's ascents (post-accident!) of the big walls in Yosemite but also his "adventure" of adapting to his situation so he could continue doing the things he loved. Quotes from various characters that Wellman meets during his journey are included in scattered excerpts and add interest to the story. The story slows a little at the end as Wellman finds his way into the nation's limelight, but overall it is an engaging telling of an uplifting story. I also highly recommend this book for persons who have undergone a spinal cord injury (like myself) and are looking at an uncertain future.