Author Description

Product Description Life threatening falls on rock and ice, avalanches,lightning on mountain tops, high altitude diseases, grizzly bears, the unpredictability of people under extreme stress, hypothermia and even exploding volcanos are all "Rocky Horrors." Very different from the usual over serious, chest thumping and media driven "We conquered the mountain" scenario this book contains a refreshingly unconventional, unpretentious and highly individual selection of stories combining travel,culture and adventure where the journey is at least as important as the goal of climbing mountains. There are tinges of "Monty Python" and "Mash". The characters and events are sometimes hilarious. Life is probably a hoax and humor was given to us to deal with the joke that is really on us. Peter Austen has adventured in 60 countries over 40 years and returned intact from many famous peaks such as Everest, Mount Communism in russia, Mont Blanc in France, Mount Robson in canada, and Alpamayo in Peru.! Totally successful trips where nothing life threatening happens are fine for information or guidebooks, but it is the sometimes unavoidable and very human errors and accidents that make for gripping and fascinating reading. " Everest Canada The Climb for Hope" was his first book and his articles and photographs have appeared in Alpine Journals, BC outdoors, magazines,tourist publications, web sites including BC Adventure and Newspapers Canada wide. He gives leadership and team building seminars using his trademarked"Everest Experience" to diverse groups both public and private, throughout North america as well as guiding mountain and exotic trips worldwide. Review A unique writing style with fascinating results -- Dean Philip Borden. California Coast University Delightful detail and self deprecating -- Ken coates. University of northern BC Monty Pythonesque and splendidly understates the rigors and dangers of mountaineering which