Annapurna, a Woman's PlaceIn August 1978, thirteen women left San Francisco for the Nepal Himalaya to make history as the first Americans--and the first women--to scale the treacherous slopes of Annapurna I, the world's tenth highest peak. Expedition leader Arlene Blum here tells their dramatic story: the logistical problems, storms, and hazardous ice climbing; the conflicts and reconciliations within the team; the terror of avalanches that threatened to sweep away camps and climbers. On October 15, two women and two Sherpas at last stood on the summit--but the celebration was cut short, for two days later, the two women of the second summit team fell to their deaths. Never before has such an account of mountaineering triumph and tragedy been told from a woman's point of view. By proving that women had the skill, strength, and courage necessary to make this difficult and dangerous climb, the 1978 Women's Himalayan Expedition's accomplishment had a positive impact around the world, changing perceptions about women's abilities in sports and other arenas. And Annapurna: A Woman's Place has become an acknowledged classic in the annals of women's achievements--a story of challenge and commitment told with passion, humor, and unflinching honesty. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 71
Page 14
... Nepal . For me the climb had already begun dur- ing those two arduous years of preparation . I had learned , for instance , that the stamina needed to stay alert during interminable meetings was as essential to climbing Anna- purna as ...
... Nepal . For me the climb had already begun dur- ing those two arduous years of preparation . I had learned , for instance , that the stamina needed to stay alert during interminable meetings was as essential to climbing Anna- purna as ...
Page 37
... Nepal , I knew that the rural people were eager for the job , which brought them much more money than working their farms . Nepal has few roads , and numerous rivers cut across its terrain . Many trails include bridges that cannot be ...
... Nepal , I knew that the rural people were eager for the job , which brought them much more money than working their farms . Nepal has few roads , and numerous rivers cut across its terrain . Many trails include bridges that cannot be ...
Page 43
... Nepal a year earlier to carry out a recon- naissance of Annapurna I and Annapurna II with a friend who had a permit for the latter peak , also for the fall of 1978. I was amazed to discover it took about a week's walk across a 17,700 ...
... Nepal a year earlier to carry out a recon- naissance of Annapurna I and Annapurna II with a friend who had a permit for the latter peak , also for the fall of 1978. I was amazed to discover it took about a week's walk across a 17,700 ...
Common terms and phrases
altitude Annie ARLENE BLUM ascent asked avalanche Base Camp Camp II Camp IIIa carry loads Chewang Cho Oyu Choya Christy climb Annapurna climb the mountain crampons crevasse Dhaulagiri Dutch Rib Dyanna Everest face feel feet felt film finally fixed line friends Gasherbrum III gear glacier Gurung hard high-altitude ice climbers IRENE MILLER Joan jumar Kathmandu KOMARKOVA Lakpa lead leave London looked Lopsang Margi Marie Maurice Herzog members and Sherpas memsahib Mingma Miristi Khola morning Nepal Nepalese night Noshaq oxygen pack Piro Pokhara problem purna radio reached the summit rest rice ridge rock rope route second summit Sherpanis Sherpas slope snow special porters stay steep ice stopped storm summit attempt summit team T-shirts talk things told trail trek trip tsampa Vera K Vera's walked Wanda Rutkiewicz Wangel wind woman women climbers worried Yeshi