~ Book Reviews ~
‘Winter Skills: Essential Walking and Climbing Techniques’ by Andy Cunningham and Allen Fyffe
As the official handbook for Mountain Training’s winter leadership qualifications, "Winter Skills: Essential Walking and Climbing Techniques" by Andy Cunningham and Allen Fyffe is a comprehensive guide designed to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and techniques for safe and effective movement in winter mountain environments.
The little book of big explorations, by Jheni Osman
So the bottom line up front, is we really love this book - for its range, diversity of storytelling, and accessibility. You can pick it up in any chapter, read for a few minutes, and feel positive about embracing challenges.
It provides an interesting take on adventure and endeavour, and linguistically widens the term to show how previously unheard-of scientists, explorers, geographers, activists, and others, took risks to explore new areas, both socially, professionally, and personally, to change the world for the better.
A short walk in the Hindu Kush, by Eric Newby
The real-life adventure follows Eric Newby CBE MC, a second world war prisoner, former special forces soldier, and fashion photographer (an interesting career path in itself!), and his diplomat friend, Hugh Carless CMG, as they drive a station wagon from London to Kabul, Afghanistan, via Iran – a journey of some 5000 miles (around 8000 kilometres) through Europe, Turkey, Iran, over the course of a month and all without any support vehicles. We think this itself is an impressive feat of planning and navigation in the era before GPS, mobile phones, or breakdown assistance!