A Peak to Climb: The Story of South African Mountaineering (Limited Edition)

Cape Town: C. Struik, 1996

Large 8vo (24,6 x 18 x 2,1cm) 176pp. Deluxe half-leather hardcover binding, with gilt lettering to the spine. With frontispiece, various full-colour and monochrome photographs, and a fold-out map.

Limited edition of 75 deluxe leather-bound copies, of which this is no. 72.

This is a story of mountains - and the men who climb them. For the first time the history of South African mountaineering has been told - from the early travellers who meandered up Table Mountain, to the tough young "mechanical" climbers of today, ascending hair-raising crags.

But this is no dull historical record, for it contains material that will interest everyone; there are thrills aplenty for the armchair climber, as the pageant of South African history is unfolded. The part played by South African women in this intriguing sport is singled out for special attention, as well as the role of the Mountain Club of South Africa in mountain rescue.

You will even find an answer to that almost unanswerable question -"Why do men climb mountains?" Told by an author who is himself a mountaineer, it is a very human story of trials, tribulations, triumph, and tragedy, which go to make up the proud tale of mountaineering. (namibiana.de)

Condition: Very good. Minor rubbing to boards. Two very small stains to front board. Light foxing to the pastedowns, free endpapers, first and last few pages, and the edges of the textblock. Text and photographs are clear, and this copy is solidly bound.