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. |
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Very inspiring story, but other than the fact that they were women, it wasn't a spectacular feat. It is interesting enough to keep the pages turning, but it's really not as epic of an accomplishment as many other books about mountaineering.
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reading now. inspirational. big and motivational.
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altitude Annapurna Annie ArlEnE blum ArlENE CAMP ascent asked avalanche Base Camp began Camp III Camp IIIa carry loads Chewang 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 ice screw irEnE millEr Joan jumar Kathmandu komArkovA Lakpa lead leave looked Lopsang Margi Marie Maurice Herzog members and Sherpas memsahib mess tent Mingma Miristi Khola morning move Nepal Nepalese night Noshaq oxygen pack Piro Pokhara problem radio reached the summit rest rice ridge rock rope route second summit Sherpanis Sherpas snow special porters stay steep ice stopped storm summit attempt summit team T-shirts talk things told trail trek trip tsampa Vera's walked Wanda Rutkiewicz Wangel wind woman worried Yeshi