To the Top of the Continent [Hardcover]

Frederick A. Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1996

90th Anniversary reprint edition of Cook's account of the first ascent of Mt. McKinley in 1906. The first to circumnavagate McKinley in 1903, Cook's claim would later be rejected by many, but in 1994 an expedition followed his route and determined that he had been where he described in his 1907 first edition. Contributions and maps by the 1994 Ruth Glacier Expedition and new photos along with the first publication of Cook's diary and index.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"expaned to include accounts by two of Cook's climbing companions and a description of the 1994 expedition, corroborating Cook's account." -- Seattle Times

About the Author

Frederick A. Cook (1865-1940)was a physician, anthropologist, author and explorer. The first American to explore both Polar regions, he was part of Robert E. Peary's North Greenland Expedition in 1891-92, was credited with saving the Belgian Antarctic Expedition in 1897-99, led a relief expedition for Peary and two others in Greenland and mounted his North Polar Expedition in 1907-09. He is credited by many as the fierst to reach and describe the conditions at the North Pole in 1908. He was founder of the Arctic Club and the American Alpine Club and third president of the Explorers Club.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Distribution, Alpen Books; 90th anniversary ed edition (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965399516
• ISBN-13: 978-0965399517
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,651,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars original story by one of the greatest US explorer, August 21, 2005

By 

Alexander Belyaev "travel book reader" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To the Top of the Continent (Hardcover)

It is very sad and so unfair that such a great explorer is not recognized in his own country. His travel stile and quality of his travel records are much better and much higher quality than any of his accusers. His business success in Texas is another great misfortune. He is one of the greatest explorers of his time and it is great to have his own story published.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cook Revisited, June 12, 2001

By 

Michael Romeling "delirious penguin" (East Nassau, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To the Top of the Continent (Hardcover)

Here's another new edition from the great explorer, writer, photogrtapher and unique personality, Dr. Frederick Cook. This book joins "Through the First Antartic Night," and "My Attainment of the Pole" as welcome re-reads for some of us and will hopefully draw new readers who are interested in exploration. As usual, Cook's writing and photography are both very good and the story of the approach and climb of Mount Mckinley in Alaska (unbelievably difficult to approach, let alone climb, at that time) is a great read. Descriptions of both terrain and his climbing companions are vivid and memorable.

Cook is of course better known as the center of a huge century old controversey (still going on today) over whether he really reached the North Pole. Those who wanted to push the claim of Robert Peary and discredit Cook, bribed Cook's climbing partner into denying they had made it to the top of Mount Mckinley in 1906. This effort was massively financed and largely successful in discreding both the Mckinley climb and Cook's later claim of having made it to the North Pole.

The new material included in these books give some added ammunition in support of Cook's claims, but will probably not change many minds among those who have been involved in this debate. For the most part, opinions have become totally polarized and even nasty over the years. Best bet? Enjoy these books and make up your own mind. Whatever the truth, Cook as an explorer, writer and personality is well worth knowing.