This is a series of essays that were penned several decades ago, all centered around the theme of mountain climbing. Naturally, I have perused "Into Thin Air" by the very same author. However, I delved into this particular one as a continuation or follow-up to "The God of the Woods". The subject matter is rather niche, and I, for one, am not a climber. Nevertheless, I discovered it to be quite engaging and entertaining.

The author vividly describes the cabin fever that sets in when one is confined to a small tent due to inclement weather. He also regales us with various tales of adventures and misadventures that occur during the climbing expeditions. I must admit that I can't quite fathom it. Why would one risk their life to conquer a mountain simply because it exists? It seems rather baffling to me. But then again, it makes for an excellent armchair adventure! One can sit back, relax, and vicariously experience the thrills and spills of mountain climbing through the author's words.

Overall, these essays offer a unique perspective on a rather specialized activity, and I would highly recommend them to anyone with an interest in adventure literature or a curious mind.

A collection of magazine essays spanning from 1982 to 1989, along with one original piece, has recently come into my possession. All of them are entirely new to me and, without a doubt, worth reading. Even though a couple of the essays present rather grim scenarios, they have endured remarkably well over the past 30+ years. I highly recommend this collection with a rating of 4+ stars.

Krakauer is an incredibly talented storyteller. I was unaware that he developed a passion for mountaineering after college. However, he scaled back his activities after experiencing several terrifying near-misses, witnessing the deaths of some friends, and getting married. Mountaineering is an insanely risky sport, but it is (mostly) fascinating to read about.

Some of the highlights and quotes from the collection include: Here's the renowned mountaineer Yvon Chouinard, during his poorer days before founding Patagonia. He recalls, "In relatively flush times, we'd splurge and buy damaged cans of cat food. We'd get them for a dime apiece and stock up for the entire summer." To avoid any misunderstandings, Chouinard is quick to add that "it was the fancy kind of cat food, the tuna flavored stuff."

"On Being Tentbound" describes a rather uncomfortable situation. The protagonist has to remove all his wet clothing, wedge himself as best he can into his clammy but somewhat waterproof backpack (while trying to ignore the fact that it is filled with the remnants of soggy Fig Newtons), pull on a rain parka, and then slither into his soaking wet sleeping bag. Night after night, he has a delirious, half-conscious dream of hiking down the glacier and coming upon a warm, dry cabin. But just as he is about to open the door, he always wakes up, shivering uncontrollably, wet and sticky with Fig Newton crumbs.

"The Burgess Boys" tells the story of two Yorkshire lads who lived for years with no visible means of support, spending their time between climbing trips to Europe and the Himalayas. One of them even married into the Denver social register! When asked about having a husband who is absent for four or five months of every year, Lorna admits that she was "really miserable for the first couple of years, but now I kind of like it; I like the pattern of coming and going, the way it keeps the relationship from getting stale…. Adrian being gone isn't nearly as bad as the way these goddamn expeditions monopolize the household when he's getting ready to go."

"Eiger Dreams" details Krakauer's attempt to climb the North Face in winter with a young partner. The final score is Eiger 3, climbers 0. But despite the defeat, Krakauer exclaims, "By God, I had survived! I sat down in the snow and began to laugh."

David's review, which can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., is the best one I've seen here.

Baby boy <3 is such a precious and adorable little being.

His innocent eyes seem to hold a world of curiosity and wonder.

Every smile that spreads across his face is like a ray of sunshine, warming the hearts of those around him.

His tiny hands and feet are constantly in motion, exploring and touching everything within reach.

The way he coos and makes those soft little sounds is simply enchanting.

He is a bundle of joy and love, bringing so much happiness to his family.

Watching him grow and develop day by day is a truly magical experience.

We can't help but fall in love with this little baby boy <3 over and over again.

His presence fills our lives with a special kind of warmth and tenderness that words can hardly describe.

We look forward to all the wonderful memories and precious moments that we will share with him as he continues to grow up.

I am an avid enthusiast of Jon Krakauer's other literary works. Therefore, I decided to give his compilation of essays centered around mountaineering a try.

Each chapter within this collection encapsulates a diverse range of captivating tales about the courageous individuals who dare to scale the dizzying heights of mountains. To my surprise, it features an excellent assortment of stories not only about the climbers themselves but also about the pilots who transport them, those who engage in bouldering, canyoneers, and the methods by which mountains are measured.

What I truly appreciate is that each chapter is rich in details yet remains easily understandable. It is replete with humor, moments of heartbreak, and a palpable sense of tension. If you were enthralled by "Into Thin Air" and find yourself yearning for a similar experience, this collection of essays will undoubtedly satisfy that craving.

It offers a unique and engaging perspective on the world of mountaineering, delving into various aspects that one might not have initially considered. Overall, it is a must-read for anyone with an interest in adventure, exploration, and the indomitable human spirit.

As always, Krakauer has an extraordinary talent for encapsulating life-long dreams, crushing defeats, and death-defying adventures within the span of just a few short pages.

His words have a powerful impact, making the reader simultaneously feel an intense longing to summit a mountain and a sense of trepidation at the enormity of such a feat.

It's as if he is able to transport us directly into the hearts and minds of those who have embarked on these perilous and yet deeply fulfilling journeys.

We experience their hopes and fears, their moments of triumph and despair, all through the vivid and engaging prose that Krakauer is renowned for.

His ability to bring these stories to life in such a concise and yet profound way is truly remarkable, leaving us with a lasting impression and a newfound appreciation for the human spirit's capacity for adventure and exploration.

I have a profound love for Krakauer. His writing has an extraordinary charm that soothes my soul.

Some of his best essays include "Eiger Dreams", "Gill", "Valdez Ice", and "Devil's Thumb". These works are not only captivating but also have a unique ability to draw the reader in and make them feel as if they are part of the story.

However, it should be noted that some of his other essays were a little too focused on providing information and, as a result, lost the narrative flow. But that's okay, as every writer has their strengths and weaknesses.

Overall, I have a great passion for reading about freaks of nature, and Krakauer's works in this regard have always been a source of inspiration and enjoyment for me.

Essays were a bit of a hit or miss.

Some of them were truly outstanding, demonstrating a high level of writing skill, clear thinking, and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. These good essays were able to engage the reader, present a convincing argument, and offer unique perspectives.

However, there were also those that fell short. They might have had issues with grammar, organization, or lacked sufficient evidence to support their claims.

Despite the variability, the existence of the really good essays served as an inspiration and a benchmark for improvement. It showed that with practice, dedication, and a good understanding of the fundamentals of writing, one could produce excellent pieces of work.

Overall, while essays had their challenges, they also provided an opportunity for growth and learning in the art of written communication.

Krakauer + mountains is always a good combo.

While Eiger Dreams might not be my favorite of Krakauer's books, I still really enjoyed it. In this collection of previously published articles, Krakauer delves deep into the reasons why men (and it’s mostly men, not women) undertake the arduous task of climbing big mountains at great cost - emotionally, physically and fiscally.

Eiger Dreams follows some fascinating personalities as they strive to conquer the world’s most renowned peaks, such as K2, Denali and El Capitan. But he doesn't stop there. He also expounds on the origin of ice climbing and bouldering, the unique culture of mountain towns, and the crucial process of choosing the right expedition partner.

There’s something truly special about Krakauer’s writing. It is both expansive, covering a wide range of topics related to mountains and climbing, and yet insightful, offering profound perspectives and analyses. Moreover, it is so very readable, making it a pleasure to devour. I breezed through this audiobook in just a few days. Some of these stories were so captivating that I wished they were full-length books!

This is my fourth read by Krakauer (I’ve also read Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster, Into the Wild and Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith). But I’m determined to round out the rest of his backlist by the end of this year! I can't wait to explore more of his works and gain further insights into the world of mountains and the human spirit.

Krakauer has an in-depth knowledge of mountains and climbing, which he has gained through personal experience. In this collection of articles, memoirs, and musings, he provides valuable insights that help non-climbers like me better understand why people are willing to risk their lives on a rock face.

Readers who have perused his later works, such as Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, will recognize some of the themes and ideas presented in Eiger Dreams. I, too, came to this book after having read other Krakauer works. Nevertheless, his early storytelling techniques were more than sufficient to engage and captivate me.

I wasn't sure what to anticipate when I picked up this book. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a wealth of stories and observations related to key mountains in North America, Europe, and the Himalayas. In addition, Krakauer profiles some of the most renowned and infamous alpinists, as well as explores some of the more unusual permutations of the sport, such as bouldering and ice climbing.

At times, Krakauer uses alpinist jargon, which can be a bit overwhelming for the layman. A glossary would have been a useful addition to the copy I was reading. In terms of pure enjoyment, Krakauer effectively uses his personal experience as bookends, covering climbs of Mt. Blanc and the Devils Thumb. His combination of humor and insight makes for a winning read.

Jon Krakauer became famous as a writer after the publication of Into Thin Air. His publisher then promoted this essay collection, which was originally released in 1990, for those readers who couldn't get enough of his mountain tales and the stories of the people who attempt to climb them. However, many readers, like myself, were likely a bit disappointed by this early work. It mainly consists of pieces Krakauer wrote for Outside magazine.

The articles about different mountains and mountain towns were educational but not overly exciting. The profiles of well-known climbers were not uninteresting, but they left me with a distinct sense of wondering why I was reading them. The one humor piece, about surviving in a tent during a raging blizzard, made it clear that while Krakauer might be a funny person in real life, he is not a humor writer.

This collection only truly came to life in the last two essays, which, not coincidentally, are the ones most reminiscent of Into Thin Air. One was an account of the horrific 1986 summer on K2, when 13 people died, more than in the previous 84 years combined. Reading about the nightmarish conditions the climbers faced was absolutely captivating, although I felt guilty for enjoying the reading while they endured such horrendous misfortunes. At times, I was so disturbed that I wondered if I'd have to hide the book.

The final essay, the only one written specifically for this book, was a memoir-like account of when Krakauer, at 23, left his dead-end job and set off alone for Alaska, brazenly certain that he would scale the Devil's Thumb via its most difficult route and that doing so would change his life. This engaging and suspenseful piece made me hope that one day Krakauer will give us a full-length memoir of his various adventures and their consequences.

So, would I recommend Eiger Dreams? Well... not really. While I'm very glad I read the final two essays, overall, this book is probably only for climbers and Krakauer completists. Everyone else would be better off reading Into the Wild and Into Thin Air instead.

Jon Krakauer is truly one of my all-time favorite nonfiction writers.

If you haven't delved into any of his works yet, then it is an absolute must that you read either "Into the Wild" or "Into Thin Air" (though it's advisable not to start with the latter).

This particular book, "Eiger Dreams", bears some resemblance to the latter in that it revolves around the theme of mountain climbing. However, it is a collection of shorter pieces that he had previously published in various magazines. In contrast, "Into Thin Air" chronicles the events of a particularly fatal season on Mount Everest.

I am among those individuals who simply cannot fathom the desire to summit Everest and believe that most of those serious climbers are bordering on insanity. Nevertheless, Krakauer has this remarkable ability to make me feel as if I can almost begin to understand the reasons why these people are willing to risk their lives on such extreme climbs.

The pieces in "Eiger Dreams" are set in different parts of the world - Alaska, Europe, and the Himalaya. They introduce the reader to a diverse group of interesting and perhaps slightly crazy individuals who are passionate about climbing mountains.

Overall, Krakauer's writing in "Eiger Dreams" offers a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of the world of mountain climbing and the people who are drawn to it.

Despite having visited the Mt. Everest base camp on the Tibetan side, I'm really just an armchair mountain climber.

I had a great time seeing the magnificent mountain and taking pictures. But I was equally glad to return to the hotel and slip into my warm bed.

Nonetheless, I have a deep love for stories about mountain climbing and the lengths people will go to reach the summit. I truly admire their perseverance and courage. In fact, I've watched the movie Free Solo twice!

I'm also in awe of the dangers they encounter and sometimes even the sheer foolishness, such as going on a climb unprepared. And then there's the heartbreak over the deaths that occur.

This is a collection of magazine articles that Krakauer wrote for publications like Outside and the Smithsonian in the late 1980s. While it may be a bit outdated, it was still a very good read and provided some interesting insights into the mindset of climbers.