The Hard Way: Stories of Danger, Survival, and the Soul of Adventure - Hardcover

Jenkins, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 074322227X ISBN 13: 9780743222273

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Synopsis

A collection of true tales on living a physical outdoor life shares his adventures of climbing the ice-rimmed Italian ridge of the Matterhorn, sea kayaking along the Turkish coast of Gallipoli, and sneaking across Tibet to reach Buddhism's holiest lake deep in the Himalayas. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author:

Mark Jenkins lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with his wife and two daughters. The adventure columnist for Outside magazine, Jenkins journeys to the most difficult and dangerous places on the planet every month. Formerly the investigative editor for Men's Health, Jenkins has also written for GQ, Playboy, Condé Nast Traveler, Backpacker, Reader's Digest, and The Washington Post.

From School Library Journal:

Adult/High School-A collection of nearly two dozen stories, many drawn from Jenkins's column for Outside magazine. The author whisks readers away to places where geography, weather, and the occasional political boundary pose daunting challenges for adventurers who actively seek to test their limits in extreme conditions. Whether the example is crossing a crevasse-ridden glacier in Wyoming, mountain climbing in Tibet, or hiking in a remote Ethiopian nature preserve hoping to spot endangered species, the point is the exultation of pitting oneself against the perils of natural landscapes, mastering the challenge through physical ruggedness and mental tenacity, and emerging alive. Each focused, brisk chapter wraps up cleanly with a neat sentence of observation that often reveals a darker outcome to the episode than the narrative implies. Most of the entries are based on the author's firsthand experiences, decorated with colorful descriptions of like-minded souls with whom he has partnered on various expeditions. A few tales, such as the profile of mountaineer George Mallory, smoothly complement, but do not keep to, this pattern. A cameo of Jenkins introducing his daughters at ages three and six to rock climbing in order to develop their confidence and sense of self-reliance brings an added dimension to the collection. Although Jenkins says that preparedness, conditioning, and avoiding ego-based lapses of judgment are essential to a venture's safe outcome, be aware that the spirited energy that infuses his anecdotes nevertheless leans toward celebration of reckless acts.
Lynn Nutwell, Fairfax City Regional Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 074322227X
• ISBN 13: 9780743222273
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240