Postcards from the ledge

Collected mountaineering writings of Greg Child, foreword by J. Simpson.
Entertaining even to those who have never been above sea level, Child’s
stories reveal climbing’s other face. His description of the daily habits of
mountaineers on expedition (who don’t bathe for months) is both disgusting and
horrifyingly funny. A post-climb fiasco in the offices of petty Pakistani
bureaucrats proves that not all epics take place on high mountain faces.
Falling of a rock climb in front of his mother is an exercise in humility.

Child takes up controversy with the same keen insight. His investigation of
Tomo Cesen’s claimed first ascent of Lhotse’s south wall is considered the
definitive report on this controversial event. A hard look at the media frenzy
around the death of Alison Hargreaves on K2 evolves into a brilliant,
impassioned defense of a friend. He also speaks out on the money- and media-
driven expeditions that now crowd Everest. b& w photographs, 222 p.
Paperback Edit. 2003