John Long

Year after year, in spite of monumental dangers, climbers return to the world's most difficult mountains, whether it's the cliffs of Yosemite or the peaks of the Himalaya. At these places, even the most cautious climber must accept the possibilities of moving unroped to save time, braving terrain vulnerable to rockfall, trusting afternoon thunderstorms to hold off long enough to get below treeline. Mistakes, bad weather and bad luck often lead

Explore offers first-hand accounts from the world's boldest explorers, men and women encountering storms, starvation, cannibals, predators and disease in their pursuit of adventure. Their stories are immediate, passionate and dramatic accounts of contact with the unknown, discovered in the Himalaya, the ruins of Peru, the jungles of New Guinea and the Amazon, the ice flows of the Arctic, along with death in the big city. With selections