Book Reviews AAJ
On Ice and Snow and Rock

On Ice and Snow and Rock, by Gaston Rébuffat. New York: Oxford Press, 1971, 192 pages, $15.00What happens when a how-to book on mountaineering is combined with a coffee-table picture book? The result is the most striking single volume on technical...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California—Sierra Nevada, Patterson Bluffs, "The Sun Also Rises"

Patterson Bluffs, “The Sun Also Rises. " In September, Scott Cosgrove, Jim Zellers and I completed a free ascent of the Sunset Buttress Route, originally rated IV, 5.10, A2 (AAJ, 1986, page 156) on Patterson Bluffs above Balch Camp. The route had ...


Accident Reports ANAM
Fall on Rock, Slack in Belay Line, Arizona, Pinnacle Peak, East Wall, Lizard Lip

FALL ON ROCK, SLACK IN BELAY LINEArizona, Pinnacle Peak, East Wall, Lizard LipOn September 23, 1991, two climbers were on Pinnacle Peak’s east wall. The lead was a 5.8 climb. The leader was about seven feet past a .5 tri cam, when he slipped. Slac...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Nanga Parbat, Diamir Face

Nanga Parbat, Diamir Face. Our expedition was made up of leader Dr. Eckart Gundelach, Karl Rössle, Thomas Mügge, Helmut Seitzl, Hubert Weinzierle, Gerhard Baur and me. We made our approach to Base Camp at 4200 meters from June 23 to 26. A reconnai...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California, High Sierra, Big Adventure

High Sierra, Big Adventure. On August 5, Josh Schmidt (16), Jared Kraus (16), and Daniel Winetsky (15) embarked on an 18-day adventure in the High Sierra. Beginning at the Balls in Southern Yosemite, the three brushed up on the fundamentals of mul...


In Memoriam AAJ
Samuel Prescott Fay, 1884–1971

SAMUEL PRESCOTT FAY 1884–1971“Pete” Fay as he was known to his friends had been a member of the Club for 59 years at the time of his death last August. His qualifications for election in 1912 were four seasons in the Canadian Rockies beginning in ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, India—Garhwal, Thalay Sagar Attempt

Thalay Sagar Attempt. An Italian expedition led by Carlo Buzzi failed to climb this mountain during August.


Club Activities AAJ
Appalachian Mountain Club

Appalachian Mountain Club. As in the past, club members participated in mountaineering endeavors throughout the world. Perhaps some of the most noteworthy rock climbing both in the U.S. and the British Isles has been that performed by Henry Barber...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Nepal, Dhaulagiri II Attempt

Dhaulagiri II Attempt. A seven-member South Korean expedition led by Ryu Si-Dong hoped to climb Dhaulagiri II (7751 meters, 25,430 feet) by the south face to the east ridge. They had to give up on April 6 at 6300 meters.Elizabeth Hawley


In Memoriam AAJ
Noel E. Odell, 1890-1987

NOEL E. ODELL 1890-1987The distinguished climber, geologist and friend, Noel E. Odell, died on February 21, 1987, as we were about to go to press. He became a member of the American Alpine Club in 1928 and was made an honorary member in 1936. A co...


Book Reviews AAJ
Les Alpinistes Célébres

Les Alpinistes Célébres by Henry de Ségogne and Jean Couzy. Paris: Editions d’Art Lucien Mazenod, 1956. 416 pages; 221 plates (8 in color). Price 6200 Fr. francs (approx. $18.00).In vast conception and noteworthy execution, the editors and 71 coll...


Accident Reports ANAM
Failure to Follow Route and Inadequate Protection—Wyoming, The Tetons, Disappointment Peak

FAILURE TO FOLLOW ROUTE AND INADEQUATE PROTECTION—Wyoming, The Tetons, Disappointment Peak. David Sheridan (28) and Chancey Bittner attempted a roped technical climb of Irene’s Arete on the South Side of Disappointment Peak on August 25. Sheridan ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Mount Alberta, North Face

Mount Alberta, North Face. In mid September Kit Lewis and I made the second ascent of the north face of Mount Alberta. We spent a day walking from the Banff-Jasper highway over the Woolley shoulder to the northeast shoulder of Alberta. We spent th...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Alaska, Mount McKinley, Northwest Buttress, Second Ascent, 1982

Mount McKinley, Northwest Buttress, Second Ascent, 1982. Alan Novey, David Shrimpton, John Rehmer, Jim Snyder, John Stolpman and I skied up the Kahiltna Glacier to Kahiltna Pass (10,000 feet) and climbed down to the Peters Glacier (8000 feet). It ...


Accident Reports ANAM
Ice Avalanche, British Columbia, Coast Mountains, Slesse Mountains

ICE AVALANCHEBritish Columbia, Coast Mountains, Slesse MountainEric Dirksen (24) and Seph Fraden (24) were approaching Slesse’s northeast buttress about 3 p.m. on August 1, 1980. The weather was hot and the route passes under a hanging glacier fro...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Antarctica, Mount Viets and 4811, Ascents

Mount Viets and 4811, Ascents. French alpininsts Erik Decamp and Catherine Destivelle made two first ascents in Antarctica. A full account of their climbs appears earlier in this journal.


Club Activities AAJ
A.A.C., New York Section

New York Section. The beginning of any new decade brings with it a moment of reflection and analysis. During the 2000’s the New York Section Alpine Club Community almost doubled in size. Perhaps more important than membership growth, however, was ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Alaska, Alaska Range, Denali, First Double Amputee to Summit

Denali, First Double Amputee to Summit. Korean climber Kim Hong Bin became the first double amputee to summit Denali, which he did via the West Buttress route. Bin had lost both hands to frostbite on a 1991 Denali accident.Denali National Park Rep...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Bolivia, Illamptu

Illampu. Our five-man expedition climbed Illampu (6362 meters, 20,873 feet) by the 1964 Yugoslavian route up the west ridge. Only Jan Häusler and I reached the summit on June 18. This was the first Norwegian ascent of the peak.Terje Kleiven, Norsk...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Bolivia, Illimani

Illimani. We two made access through the village of Mina Urania by a long moraine which rises directly to the southwest face of Illimani. Our first attempt was in the middle of the face which we climbed in very difficult gullies, hoping to reach a...