Berkeley, 1974, 1st edition. 207 pp, 130 color and b/w photos. Galen's first book; 14 essays on the Golden Age of Yosemite. Large format hardcover with chipped dust jacket. Book is Near Fine condition.
This copy is SIGNED by 8 great climbers: Layton Kor, Jim Bridwell, Glen Denny, Tom Frost, Royal Robbins, Steve Roper, Allen Steck, Tommy Caldwell.
Chapters by Royal Robbins (4 chapters: The Salathé Wall El Capitan, The North American Wall, Tis-sa-ack, interview), Yvon Chouinard (2 chapters: Muir Wall El Capitan, Modern Yosemite Climbing), Bestor Robinson (The First Ascent of the Higher Cathedral Spire), A. Phimister Proctor (An Ascent of Half Dome in 1884 [one of the earliest 'technical' climbs in the Sierras]), Anton Nelson (Five Days and Nights on the Lost Arrow), Allen Steck (2 chapters: Ordeal by Piton, Robbins interview), Michael Sherrick (The Northwest Face of Half Dome), Warren Harding (2 chapters: El Capitan [the first ascent of the Nose], Reflections of a Broken-down Climber), Allen Macdonald (Realm of the Overhang), Doug Robinson (Camp 4), Galen Rowell (3 chapters: Rescue on the South Face of Half Dome, Introduction, Robbins interview), Ken Wilson (Robbins interview).
GALEN ROWELL and his photographs won many awards including the Ansel Adams Award. His photographs have been exhibited at the International Center of Photography, the California Academy of Sciences, the Smithsonian, the Ansel Adams Gallery, etc. Rowell wrote several excellent books and his work has been published in many prominent magazines.
Sadly, Galen and his wife Barbara, were killed in a small plane crash in 2002 approaching Bishop, California. Rowell had an amazing record of climbing and exploration: Over 100 first ascents of routes in Yosemite Valley and High Sierra Nevada. First one-day ascent of Mt McKinley, aka Denali, in Alaska. First ascent of Great Trango Tower in the Karakoram. First ski ascent-descent of Mustagh Ata First ascent of NE Ridge of Amne Machin (second ascent of the mountain by few days). First ski circuit of Denali About 40 expeditions to remote peaks including Nun Kun, K2, Mount Everest, various Karakoram peaks & spires, Patagonia, Kilimanjaro, Gasherbrum II, Alaska, Yukon, Canadian Rockies, etc.
