Eiger: The Vertical Arena

Eiger: The Vertical Arena by Anker, Daniel. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780898866797.

No other mountain looms larger in mountaineering history and myth than the infamous Eiger. Though much has been written about this mountain, Eiger: The Vertical Arena is a refreshingly different history. It goes beyond the traditional classics by exploring what the Eiger means to more than just a single climber. Editor Daniel Anker has gathered the work of 17 different climbers with first-hand knowledge of the Eiger to offer both historical and personal perspectives about the mountain. Contributions range from Sylvain Joutys stage-setting and incisive historical analysis of the attraction to the North Face to Charles Barringtons letter to his younger brother written in 1882, 24 years after the first ascent of the Eiger. Other sections consider the ethics of guiding, the effect of the North Face on the local population, as well as filming, skiing, and mountain rescues.