AAC, 2003, 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. About 300 photographs, many with route overlays, and 20 locator maps.
The lead stories for 2003 include a survey of a huge range in eastern Tibet where nearly every summit is unclimbed, three perspectives on new routing on Mexico's massive El Gigante, Sean Easton's gripping tale of the first ascent of Mt. Dickey's Blood From Stone route, Alun Hubbard's multi-year sailing and climbing journey to Antarctica, Mike Libecki's forty-day solo odyssey for a giant new route in east Greenland, Stefan Glowacz describing why they climb new routes from the ground up in the eastern Alps, and so much more.
The American Alpine Journal is edited by John Harlin III, mountaineering author, contributing editor for Backpacker magazine, 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. Thick paperback. WE HAVE MOST BACK ISSUES.