Customer Reviews

Distant Peaks - A Journey through Cultures & Conquests

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As a beginner alpine climber, I love this book. Len's precise, yet descriptive, writing makes for a very enjoyable read. I have tried to read books by other climbers, who I will not mention, and I became lost in their words and ideas. Len's writing is easy to follow and is at the core of mountaineering: beautiful simplicity. Len's everyman voice makes it easy for us to relate to him. He is not some mountaineering demigod, but a simply a driven man following a passion.

In Distant Peaks, Len recounts his adolescent experiences in the Tetons that drove him to ever higher ambitions. After initial failure, he returns to the Tetons years later to claim summit success. From here, he becomes interested in classic climbs in the legendary French and Swiss Alps, Africa's Rift Valley volcanoes, and the enchanting volcanic peaks in the Ecuadorean Andes. His story is the story of every novice mountaineer, that of failure and success, dreams and accomplishments, doubt and resolve.

Readers will find this book highly pleasureable because of it's frankness, simplicity, and ability to relate to the author. It is a fun, albeit quick, read that will tempt you to further your armchair travels or, as I sure the author would like, get you hiking and climbing. I cannot recommend this book enough for novice mountaineers.

Reading Distant Peaks was truly inspiring to say the least. Peter Len really put into words a dream that drove him to seek out and climb some the world's most amazing mountains. Along the way he offers advice and information about the areas he visited in order to increase his and his group's likelihood of making a successful summit. This information is probably crucial for anyone looking to do the same type of climbs Peter Len attempted. I am not a mountain climber myself and never considered all that it takes to do something like the climbs Peter Len accomplished. Many factors like weather, acclimation, use of guide, which guide, practice climbs, personal health, health of group members, time of year, and avalanche threat are just some the things the either made a climb successful or not. This book is really a book of adventure that anyone with a dream should read for inspiration, not just for climbing.

This book is a great read for someone who climbs, those who think about or dream about climbing and those who just like the adventure of going new places. Peter puts you on the mountain and gives first hand insight into the thrill of climbing. The material on the specific mountains and cultures is a real bonus. An enjoyable and easy read!!

Those who didn't understand why "Into Thin Air" motivated, rather than discouraged, so many to take up climbing the high mountains of this world, will learn from the personal experiences of Peter Len, the author, why the mountains have so much attraction for non professional climbers. Peter Len vividly describes how a person from a State without mountains discovers his passion in climbing, taking him to the Alps, Kenya and Ecuador. Armchair adventurers learn how to plan an exiting vacation and gain life long memories. This book is not only fun to read but makes you want to be with Peter Len on his next trip.

Mr. Len does a solid job of helping us see the adventures from his grounded perspective. While many of today's television shows focus on experts guiding the "weekend warriors" with their assault on Everest, etc., Mr. Len provides a well written account of how the regular climbing enthusiast can pursue his or her dreams without the need to be on Discovery Channel. Thanks for taking us along for the ride and here's lifting a glass of "summit champagne" to Mr. Len for an enjoyable read.

Gives a realistic look at attempting mountain summits from an ordinary person. Great details on some of the world's classic mountains. This book has a nice web page (http://distantpeaksclimbing.com) which has some additional information, to include sample text and links to pictures.