The Alpine Journal

The prestigious Alpine Journal is the oldest mountaineering journal in the world. This 115th volume includes accounts of most exciting climbing expeditions of the last two years. Mick Fowler describes his escape from a crevasse in the Chinese Tien Shan before going on to make the first ascent of the 1600m north face of Sulamar (5380m). It is just one of a dozen stories told in this AJ by climbers pushing the limits in ranges around the world. In a thoughtful essay, Doug Scott weighs the pleasures and pitfalls of honours and competition in mountaineering; Lindsay Griffin examines 'traditional values' in climbing; and in an extensive book review section, Jim Curran draws harsh lessons from a spate of books on the perils of K2. Details on new routes around the world in an authoritative Area Notes sections, new historical research on George Mallory and also plant hunter Joseph Hooker, a report on climate change in the mountains, and watercolours of Bhutan all contribute to the variety of this latest Alpine Journal.