Washburn: Extraordinary Adventures Of A Young Mountaineer - Softcover

Washburn, Phil

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1929173725 ISBN 13: 9781929173723

Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club Books, 2004

Synopsis

Bradford Washburn is well known for his daring climbs of the world's highest peaks, his pioneering work in aerial photography and mountain cartography, and founding the internationally renown Boston Museum of Science. But his bold exploits started long before he first set eyes on McKinley and the Yukon. As a teenager, Washburn climbed Mount Washington--home of the "worst weather in the world"--in winter; scaled unclimbed peaks in the French Alps; and with a team of Harvard Mountaineers, made a second ascent of 15,500-foot Mount Fairweather, the highest peak in Alaska's coastal range. Now readers can learn about these extraordinary adventures in Washburn's own words in this collection of his early works: Among the Alps with Bradford, Bradford on Mount Washington, and Bradford on Mount Fairweather. In each book, the teenage Washburn describes his adventures in vivid detail, including the shockingly simple techniques he and his climbing buddies relied upon to scale some of the world's most ferocious peaks in the 1920s. Washburn's boyish clarity of purpose and enthusiasm offer insight into the incredibly accomplished author, photographer, lecturer, and mapmaker that he would become. Originally published as part of G.P. Putnam's Sons' true-life adventure series Boys' Books by Boys' nearly 80 years ago, this exclusive collection is not just for young adults. Mountain historians, followers of Washburn's life and work, or anyone who loves a gripping story of adventure will be entertained, engaged, and inspired.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Bradford Washburn is well known for his daring climbs of the world's highest peaks and his pioneering work in aerial photography and mountain cartography. But Washburn's bold exploits started long before he first set eyes on McKinley and the Yukon.
As a teenager, Washburn scaled the high peaks of the French Alps and climbed Mount Washington - home of the "worst weather in the world" - in winter. At age 20, he led a team of fellow Harvard Mountaineering Club members on an expedition to make the first ascent of 15,300-foot Mount Fairweather, the highest peak in Alaska's coastal range. Through these adventures, Washburn established himself as an accomplished young mountaineer. He also became a successful teen author when G.P. Putnam's Sons published accounts of these early achievements as part of the true-life adventure series Boys' Books by Boys.
Now you can read about Washburn's extraordinary adventures in this collection of three rare early works – back in print after nearly 70 years. From precocious teen in the French Alps to expedition leader in Alaska, in each book Washburn reveals a boyish clarity of purpose and enthusiasm, offering insight into the incredibly accomplished author, photographer, and mapmaker that he would become.
Illustrated with original photographs, this collection is an invaluable contribution to the history of mountaineering, as well as immensely fun reading for anyone who loves a good adventure.

About the Author:

World-class mountaineer, photographer, cartographer, and scholar, Bradford Washburn served as director of the Boston Museum of Science for nearly 40 years. He has produced numerous award-winning maps, including those of Mount Everest, Mount McKinley, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Washington and the rest of New Hampshire's Presidential Range. Washburn pioneered aerial photography (modifying both camera and airplane to capture vast landscapes), mountain cartography, wireless communications, cold-weather search and rescue, and cold weather survival techniques. He began his climbing career when he was just 11 years old by scaling Mount Washington, the highest and harshest but closest such peak to his boyhood home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He would soon climb in the Alps and Alaska, claiming numerous first ascents around the globe.

About this edition

• Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1929173725
• ISBN 13: 9781929173723
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256