Lost Mountains: Climbs in the Himalaya (Paperback)

~ (Author), Clint Willis (Introduction) "Snow began to fall at dusk..." (more)
Key Phrases: snow mushrooms, snow towers, ice screw, Advance Base, North Face, Ibex Col (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of the best first books on the Himalaya for a very long time. -- High magazine, October 1986

Venables offers excellent and detailed historical background, whilst weaving a compelling narrative. -- Climbing magazine, 2002

Product Description

First published as 'Painted Mountains', this book won the prestigious Boardman Tasker prize in 1986. It is the story of two expeditions to Kashmir. In the first the author makes the first ascent of the stunningly beautiful and difficult peak of Kishtwar Shivling; in the second he explores the war zone adjoining the disputed Siachen Glacier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560253738
• ISBN-13: 978-1560253730
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,022,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a long climb to the top, March 18, 2003

By	M. Ragen "searagen" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first half of this book was more interesting for me -- the expedition to Kishtware Shivling was self-contained and the author was able to convey more of a sense of place and spirit. The second half settles down to more of slow, plodding pace. There are no great revelations; it is almost as if the famed British 'reserve' seems to come into play. The writing itself doesn't have the same spirit or liveliness that other writers bring to the genre of mountaineering books; that is, less of the climbers' actual personalities are conveyed than in other books. Unlike some of the best books, there are few spots in this book where the tension and pressures of climbing become self-evident in the writing and the expressed drama between the climbers. That said, there were parts of the book that were very rewarding and enjoyable to read such as the elaborate details given on the hike into the mountains gave me a better perspective on the geography rather than just observation of details. In short, this not a bad book by any stretch of the definition -- it's just not a great one.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adventure on an Unclimbed Peak, January 8, 2003

By	California Climber (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews

The first part of this book focuses on Venables' and Dick Renshaw's summit of Kishtwar-Shivling, a then unclimbed 6000 meter peak in the Himalaya. Venables is a capable author and conveys a sense of adventure that books of this type often lack. He understates the danger they faced on the mountain, particularly after their summit climb. The second half of the book deals with the Alpine Club's climbing in the Eastern Karakoram. Venables did make a mistake and he certainly expressed his sense of embarrassment at his blunder (I don't want to spoil the book for those who haven't read it). Venables does not "rag on the ones who saved him." This book is a nice change of pace, as it focuses on basically unknown mountains.