Mick Conefrey Livres

The gripping story of the world's most deadly mountain

The Last Great Mountain tells the story of the first ascent of Kangchenjunga the third highest but reputedly the hardest mountain in the world. It was an astonishing achievement for a British team led by Everest veteran Charles Evans. Drawing on interviews, diaries and unpublished accounts, Mick Conefrey begins his story in 1905 with the first, disastrous attempt on the mountain by a team led by Aleister Crowley, explores the three dramatic German expeditions of the the late 1920s and brings it all to a climax 50 years later with the first ascent by Joe Brown and George Band. The Last Great Mountain is the final instalment of Mick Conefrey’s acclaimed high altitude trilogy.

The dramatic and compelling account of the first attempt to climb Mount Everest

On the morning of 2 June 1953, the day of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, the first news broke that Everest had finally been conquered. Drawing on first-hand interviews and unprecedented access to archives, this is a ground-breaking new account of that extraordinary first ascent. Revealing that what has gone down in history as a supremely well-planned expedition was actually beset by crisis and controversy, Everest 1953 recounts a bygone age of self-sacrifice and heroism, using letters and personal diaries to reveal the immense stress and heartache the climbers often hid from their fellow team members. Charting how the ascent affected the original team in subsequent years and detailing its immense cultural impact today, Everest 1953 is the perfect book to commemorate this remarkable feat of the human will.

At 28,251 feet, K2 might be almost 800 feet shorter than Everest, but it is a far tougher proposition. Unlike Everest, there is no "Yak route" for commercial clients. It is hard climbing all the way from its base to its summit. K2 will kill you on the way up and kill you on the way down. Mick Conefrey tells the story of three extraordinary expeditions filled with riveting drama and unimaginable tragedy- Fritz Wiessener's controversial attempt of 1939, the disastrous American expedition of 1953, and the huge Italian expedition of 1954 on which K2 was first climbed. He captures the bold and eccentric characters - their friendships and rivalries, their guilt and betrayals. At the center of the narrative is Charlie Houston, who led the failed 1953 exhibition, who was forced to give up his ambition of ever reaching the summit, and who was haunted for the rest of his life by the ghosts of the world's most beautiful and lethal mountain.

'The Adventurer's Handbook' is a light-hearted romp through the history of exploration, using the style of how-to manual with tips, techniques and instructions on all kinds of adventures and expeditions.

Ever wondered how to cook a locust or sweet-talk a cannibal? Welcome to the captivating world of female explorers – women just as inspiring, brave, and occasionally downright strange as all the Shackletons, Mallorys, and Livingstones. Discover who dressed up as a Tibetan peasant to explore Asia and why you shouldn’t let a gorilla near your bedroom. Learn how to spot a good camel and who carried two holsters on her horse: one for a loaded revolver and one for tea-making equipment. Pairing intrepid stories of yesteryear with hilarious retro tips from history’s greatest female adventurers, How to Climb Mont Blanc in a Skirt is perfect for both seasoned explorers and office workers dreaming of that next big trip abroad.

Exploring the mystery surrounding George Mallory, this book delves into his iconic mountaineering philosophy of "Because it's there!" Through meticulous research, it uncovers the challenges and motivations that drove Mallory to conquer the world's highest peaks. The narrative not only highlights his adventurous spirit but also examines the profound impact of his legacy on the climbing community and the enduring allure of Mount Everest.

A dramatic and compelling reappraisal of George Mallory published to coincide with the centenary of his mysterious disappearance on Mount Everest in 1924

Epická sága prvovýstupu na nejnebezpečnější horu planety přináší podmanivý příběh K2, která, ačkoliv je s 8611 metry téměř o dvě stě padesát metrů nižší než Mount Everest, překonává ji obtížností výstupu. Mike Conefrey nabízí barvitý popis prvních pokusů o dosažení vrcholu a fascinující vhled do složitého dědictví prvovýstupu. Historie začíná neúspěšnou snahou okultisty Aleistera Crowleyho a mapuje osudy mnoha významných osobností, jako je italský vévoda Abruzzský, americký průkopník lezení Fritz Wiessner, a tragicky osudem stíhaný vůdce expedice Charlie Houston. Dva Italové, Achille Compagnoni a Lino Lacedelli, se nakonec stali prvními, kdo stanuli na vrcholu, avšak K2 se pro všechny stala posedlostí, která nepřinesla štěstí. Conefrey využívá exkluzivní rozhovory s přeživšími členy expedic a přístup k jejich deníkům, aby odhalil atmosféru „kruté hory“ a důvody, proč zůstává „horou opravdových horolezců“ i přes kontroverze a tragická úmrtí. Duchové K2 je mistrovské dílo horolezecké literatury, vystavěné na napětí a obsazené tragickými hrdiny a výstředními snílky.