Everest and conquest in the Himalaya : science and courage on the world's highest mountain

A century ago the summits of the world's highest peaks, Everest included, were beyond reach. Pioneering attempts to overcome the dangers of climbing at extremely high altitudes ended in failure, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Yet today high-altitude ascents are frequent, almost commonplace. Everest can be conquered by relatively inexperienced mountaineers, and their exploits barely merit media attention - unless they go fatally wrong. In this fascinating study of the dramatic history of Everest climbs, Richard Sale and George Rodway describe in vivid detail the struggle to conquer the mountain and the advances in scientific knowledge that made the conquest possible. Their account gives a compelling insight into the science of mountaineering as well as the physical and psychological challenges faced by individuals who choose to test themselves in some of the harshest conditions on earth. The true story of the iconic teddy bear who became a beloved children’s book character and continues to inspire children around the world. In this captivating biography, author Shirley Harrison follows the journey of Winnie-the-Pooh, the world’s most famous silly old bear, from his first appearance to his final resting place. Winnie-the-Pooh was “born” in an Acton toy factory in 1921. From there he traveled to Harrods where he was bought by Mrs. Daphne Milne for her baby son, Christopher Robin. At the family’s farmhouse in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, deep in the “Hundred Acre Wood,” author A.A. Milne transformed his son Christopher Robin’s playtime fantasies into the stories that would captivate readers the world over. From England, Pooh emigrated to America, spending many years as a celebrity on tour. Today, he lives in retirement in the Children’s Center of the New York Public Library along with Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, and Piglet. Filled with family anecdotes and illustrated with photographs of the people and places that brought the bear to life, The Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh is a biography that traces the steps of the bear himself, the Milne family, and the loveable character they created. A history of those who have scaled Mount Everest—and the advances in mountaineering over a century. At one time, the summits of the world's highest peaks—Everest included—were beyond reach. Pioneering attempts to overcome the dangers of climbing at extremely high altitudes ended in failure, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Yet today, high-altitude ascents are frequent, almost commonplace. Everest can be conquered by relatively inexperienced mountaineers, and their exploits barely merit media attention—unless they go fatally wrong. This dramatic history of Everest climbs describes in vivid detail the struggle to conquer the mountain and the advances in scientific knowledge that made the conquest possible. It also offers compelling insight into the science of mountaineering—as well as the physical and psychological challenges faced by individuals who choose to test themselves in some of the harshest conditions on earth. "When Christopher Robin Milne was given a small Farnell teddy bear from Harrods 90 years ago on-one realised how much it would change so many lives. His father, A.A. Milne, wrote many stories around the adventures of the toy bear. Eventually Pooh's international fame soured the relationship between father and son, also generating much commercial feuding in his name. In 1947 Pooh was sent to live in New York, where he remains today with his friends from the nursery, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Tigger. Still raising millions of pounds for charity he has become the richest, most valuable and best-love teddy bear in the world."--Jacket [p. 2.] In this fascinating study of the dramatic history of Everest climbs, Richard Sale and George Rodway describe in vivid detail the struggle to conquer the mountain and the advances in scientific knowledge that made the conquest possible. Their account gives a compelling insight into the science of mountaineering as well as the physical and psychological challenges faced by individuals who choose to test themselves in some of the harshest conditions on earth. SPORTS & RECREATION / Mountaineering This fascinating study of the dramatic history of Everest climbs describes in vivid detail the struggle to conquer the mountain and the advances in scientific knowledge that made the conquest possible. Their account gives a compelling insight into the science of mountaineering as well as the physical and psychological challenges faced