Alpine Journal 2012 – Vol. 116

The prestigious Alpine Journal is the oldest mountaineering journal in the
world. This 116th volume features some of the boldest exploratory alpinism of
the last year or so. An international cast including Mick Fowler, Pat Deavoll
(NZ), Freddie Wilkinson (US), Bruce Normand (Scotland) describe first ascents
in Nepal, Afghanistan, India and China, while Italian Simone Moro reflects on
the ordeal of making the first ascent of a Karakoram 8000er in winter.

To mark the London Olympics there is a thoughtful essay by Phil Bartlett on
`Is Mountaineering Sport?`, and also a long-overdue French admission that
Bonington and Whillans were indeed the first to the top of the Central Pillar
of Freney on Mont Blanc.

The above are only a selection of what is to be found in this richly
illustrated volume. Details of new routes around the world in an authoritative
Area Notes section, scientific research on glaciers and on carbon monoxide
poisoning from camp stoves, paintings in watercolour and oil, and lively book
reviews all contribute to the variety of this latest Alpine Journal.

Editor of the AJ since 2004, Stephen Goodwin is a journalist, climber and
guidebook author. He went freelance in 1999 after 13 years as a staff
correspondent on The Independent, mainly covering politics at Westminster. In
1998 he reached the south summit of Everest, filing an award-winning diary to
The Independent. His guidebook, 20 Day Walks in the Lake District, was
published in 2009 by Vertebrate Graphics.