Frank Smythe

The Six Alpine / Himalayan Climbing Books

Frank Smythe

Two big Brenva first ascents and other early Alpine and Dolomite adventures led to an invitation to join a big International expedition (Kanchenjunga, 1930) with Erwin Schneider, Uli Wieland, Marcel Kurz and others. The next three books (Garhwal and Everest ventures) fit neatly with the Tilman / Shipton oeuvre. In Mountaineering Holiday more alpine climbs are made culminating with an ascent of Mt Blanc's Innominata Route in tandem with a German party, just before WW2 began. With a rich collection of period and modern photos (notably a colour portfolio of Brenva / Innominata views), fascinating appendices and other climb accounts, this omnibus allows a re-assessment of Smythe's climbing and literary achievements. His stunning solo completion of the Mana Peak first ascent in 1937 (The Valley of Flowers) reveals a truly modern approach predating, by decades, the climbs of Buhl, Messner and Scott.

This book thus gives an understanding of early Himalayan alpine-style climbing, Smythe's involvement, influences, and status in the pantheon.

  • Price:   £ 18.99
  • Publisher: Bâton Wicks
  • Publish date: Available
  • ISBN: 1-898573-37-9
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