AAC, 2004, 500+ pp, photos. Every year the AAJ gets better and better, as the journal of record for recording the greatest climbs of the previous year, especially those which do not have their own books. The AAJ is the reference for anyone planning anything new in the mountains or venturing into remote ranges. Nearly 200 pages of exciting stories about the most important climbs of the year-as told by the climbers themselves. Nearly 300 pages of short reports from new routes in the world's mountains-also told by the climbers themselves.
The lead stories for 2004 include a survey of climbing opportunities in Kyrgyzstan, the bone-numbing Russian ascent of Nuptse East's notorious SE buttress, the Benegas brothers' first alpine-style ascent of main Nuptse, Micah Dash's first free ascent of Nalumasortoq in Greenland, the first complete traverse of the Picket Range in Washington, a raging dialogue over the influence of M-climbing on alpine climbing standards, an amazing sailing/climbing journey to Antarctica, the final debunking of Maestri's great hoax on Cerro Torre, and much, much more.The American Alpine Journal is edited by John Harlin III, author of The Climber's Guide to North America and Mount Rainier: Views and Adventures, and a veteran of first ascents and/or first ski descents on four continents. Rumor has it that other members of his family also climbed.
