Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada

A series of mountaineering narratives and scientific observations describe exploratory climbs across a rugged western mountain range, pairing vivid natural description with practical accounts of ascents, descents, and camp life. Geological explanation of the range’s formation and structure is woven into travel narratives of routes, storms, alpine meadows, and wildlife, while several chapters give detailed accounts of specific peaks and traverses. Scenes range from forest travel to glacier and summit work, noting hazards, techniques, and changing weather. The volume concludes with portraits of fellow climbers and reflective passages on the emotional and aesthetic rewards of high-country exploration.