INTO THIN AIR BY JON KRAKAUER

One of the most famous mountaineering disasters happened on Mount Everest in 1996 when eight climbers were killed when a storm closed in during an expedition. Writer Jon Krakauer was on the trip at the time – and wrote his account of the tragedy.

The book gained criticism at the time from fellow mountaineers on the trip about his account of the Russian climber Anatoli Boukreev. Boukreev wrote his own response to Into Thin Air in his book, The Climb.

If you are interested in Everest, you should read this piece on Everest’s recently introduced climbing rules or the grizzly truth about the climbers who die on Everest.

NANGA PARBAT PILGRIMAGE BY HERMANN BUHL

Nanga Parbat is the autobiography of Hermann Buhl who climbed Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain in the world. It was published just after his climb in 1953 and inspired a whole generation of mountaineers. Some even describe this to be a greater achievement than Hillary and Tenzing’s Everest climb.

THE SHINING MOUNTAIN BY PETER BOARDMAN

“It’s a preposterous plan. Still, if you do get up it, I think it’ll be the hardest thing that’s been done in the Himalayas.”

These were the words of mountaineer Chris Bonington when he was asked by Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker in 1976 to join them to climb the west wall of Indian mountain Changabang – otherwise known as the Shining Mountain.

It’s a funny, readable and honest account of climbing the technically challenging peak which had never been attempted as a two-man lightweight team.

SPACE BELOW MY FEET BY GWEN MOFFAT

This is the fascinating story of Gwen Moffat who deserted her post as an Army driver and went to Wales and Cornwall to live rough and go climbing.

She hitch-hiked from Skye to Chamonix with barely more than a climbing rope and a sleeping bag on her – picking up odd jobs along the way from posing as an artist’s model to becoming a ship helmswoman.

She tackled some of Europe’s toughest climbs and went on to become the first woman to qualify as a mountain guide.

A SLENDER THREAD BY STEPHEN VENABLES

While scaling the unclimbed mountain Panch Chuli in the Himalayas, Stephen Venables’ abseil failed and he fell, smashing into the rocky mountainside, before finding himself seriously wounded and suspended by his rope above a 50 degree ice field. This is the story about how he survived – with the help of team mate Chris Bonington.

SAVAGE ARENA BY JOE TASKER

Joe Tasker and his climber partner Chris Boardman were known in their day for pushing the boundaries of mountaineering.

Savage Arena details his achievements – including ascending the north face of the Eiger in winter and a new route on Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world and one of the most difficult 8000ers.

Tasker delivered the transcript to his publisher just as he left for an Everest expedition in 1982 – and sadly never returned.

A SHORT WALK IN THE HINDU KUSH BY ERIC NEWBY

Acclaimed travel writer Eric Newby left his home in London and embarked on a journey from Mayfair to Afghanistan with his friend Hugh Carless.

Totally inexperienced and underprepared, the pair find themselves on a month-long adventure in one of the most beautiful places on earth, captured in writing with Newby’s characteristic wit and sharp observations.

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