2001, 368 pp. The publication of The Mountain of My Fear in 1968 and Deborah in 1970 changed the face of the mountaineering narrative. With these two books, the world of climbing and the world of literature witnessed the emergence of a man whose brilliance in both fields is legendary. Now these two classic expedition narratives by mountaineering writer David Roberts are reissued in this single volume. In a new introduction, interlude, and epilogue, written twenty-five years later, Roberts links the two expeditions and their telling and lends his insights into the unique friendships involved. New hardcover, no DJ issued.
Deborah is the story of Roberts' expedition with fellow Harvard Mountaineering Club Member Don Jensen to the eastern side of Mount Deborah in Alaska in 1964. Their two man attempt on the then-unclimbed ridge was a rash and heroic effort. The story tells not only what happened on the mountain, but what happened in that stark isolation to the climbers and to their friendship, as each became totally dependent on the other for survival.
In The Mountain of My Fear, Roberts and Jensen come together again only a year after the Deborah climb. In this account, they and two other Harvard students attempt an ascent of Mount Huntington, for the first time via its treacherous west face. The peak had been reached only once before, via one of its less dangerous ridges. The Mountain of My Fear is the story of a magnificent achievement. It is also the story of how the perfect adventure turned into tragedy in a single instant when Roberts' partner plunged, silently and swiftly, off the face of the mountain.
New and original photos illustrate the book. Mountaineers, lovers of adventure literature, David Roberts fans, and non-climbers who simply enjoy a good story will treasure this collection, by a great climber and a great writer, of two dramatic and enlightening works. New paperback.
David Roberts continues to write award-winning books and articles that are published worldwide. He made several pioneering, significent first ascents in Alaska including the Wickersham Wall on Mt McKinley, Kachatna Spire, East Face of Mt Dickey, etc. He co-authored with Bradford Washburn the magnificent book, Mount McKinley, The Conquest of Denali and is in 2006 ghost writing Ed Viesturs story of his 8000 meter climbs.
