On Top of the World – The New Millennium

This book looks at the development of climbing on the world’s highest
mountains – the 14 whose summits stand above the 8000 metre contour. Though
concentrating on the new millennium, from 2000 to 2011, with an epilogue on
2011, the book also covers the first ascent of the mountains, and the new
routes climbed between the first ascent and 1999.

A sequel to On Top of the World, published in 2000 which dealt with the
discovery and early climbing history of the mountains, the book also uses new
material which has come to light over the last decade to re-appraise the first
ascents on Annapurna, Broad Peak and K2.

Illustrated with stunning images for the new routes established during the new
millennium, the book also includes archival shots from the early history of
the mountains. These archival shots include first ascent shots from two of the
mountains which had not been made available for the earlier book.

The book is completed with data on the mountains provided by co-author
Eberhard Jurgalski, who maintains the world’s most up-to-date database on
these (and other) mountains. The data include all climbers who have summitted
all 14 mountains (a figure which now stands at an astonishing 28) as well as
those who are nearing the complete set. Sadly some of the latter have died in
the attempt and will never achieve their goal.