Spirit of the Rock [Hardcover]

Ron Kauk (Author), Phil Bard (Photographer), Mark Chapman (Photographer), Greg Epperson (Photographer), Chris Falkenstein (Photographer), Josh Helling (Photographer), Mike Hoover (Photographer), Shawn Reeder (Photographer), Galen Rowell (Photographer), Jim Thornburg (Photographer), Kevin Worrall (Photographer), Heinz Zak (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2003

"What a teacher the school of granite has been. The opportunity to write ourselves into these boulders and big walls has created stories that can help us understand who we are."
--Ron Kauk

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

At sixteen years of age Ron Kauk went climbing in the Sierra for the summer and found the miracle of life. The natural world became his teacher and he signed up for the school of granite walls, rivers, oaks and the mystery of changing days and seasons. For years he lived in Camp 4 with an international group of nonconformist climbers, existing simply, stimulating his senses, and learning how to live in harmony with the vertical world. He found all his relations right there in Yosemite--the falcons, bears, deer, rock--a feeling that everything belongs. Over two decades he made legendary first ascents throughout Yosemite, including bouldering in Camp 4 on Midnight Lightening and Thriller; short free climbs such as Tales of Power and Separate Reality; a first free ascent of world-class Astroman; pushing the standards with Magic Line, recognized as the most difficult crack climb in Yosemite; and hanging on all the big walls for days at a time, including two first ascents on El Capitan. Now, thirty years into his climbing adventure, Kauk's commitment is to be of service to the natural world through raising awareness in the community, protecting the earth, and helping new generations recognize the values of respect and responsibility to our source of life.

From the Back Cover

"What a teacher the school of granite has been. The opportunity to write ourselves into these boulders and big walls has created stories that can help us understand who we are."
--Ron Kauk

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith; 1 edition (April 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586851500
• ISBN-13: 978-1586851507
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,610,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasure and an Inspiration, December 17, 2003

By 

"nora59" (Mariposa, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of the Rock (Hardcover)

This book is a little gem: part poem, part personal story, part prayer. The photography is beautiful and innovative. Though the writing grows out of the author's rock climbing experiences, it is more about learning and loving nature, challenging oneself, and growing into a balanced, fully human life. The life lessons found in these pages seem influenced by Native American and zen thought: the earth is sacred, we are all connected, difficulty brings opportunity, life is full of joy. Reading this book is uplifting, though I wouldn't call it a "feel good" work. It challenges and affirms the best parts of our humanity. It inspires me to do better: for the world and for myself.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice photos, but light on biographical or climbing information., February 3, 2006

By 

Kevin Kartchner (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of the Rock (Hardcover)

I first became aware of Ron Kauk through the article that Sports Illustrated published about him back around 1986, which I partly credit for sparking my own interest in rock climbing. I recently bought this book online, hoping to read more anecdotes and climbing tales of the sort I'd read in Sports Illustrated years ago (and like those contained in works by Roper, Long, Ament, Krakauer, et al). However, the text of the book consists mainly of philosophical fluff, tinged with native American attitudes toward nature, that has about as much substance as cotton candy. Not to belittle Kauk's viewpoint--I'm sure he's sincere, and in certain ways I envy him his lifestyle (not to mention his climbing ability)--but I was expecting literary meat and potatoes and was left salivating.