In this Book
- Peak Experiences: Danger, Death, and Daring in the Mountains of the Northeast
- Book
- 2012
- Published by: University Press of New England
summary
In the mountains, the difference between a pleasant day of hiking and a life-threatening disaster is as simple as a loose rock, a turned ankle, or a misjudged patch of ice. In an instant, even the most experienced and prepared of outdoorspersons can find themselves at the mercy of the elements (and their own choices) — and suddenly, sometimes tragically, the situation slips out their control. In this collection of over fifty tales of day hikes and long treks gone awry, the seasoned climber and writer Carol Stone White brings together some of her favorite tales of outdoor misadventure written by colleagues and fellow enthusiasts who have experienced the harsher side of climbing the peaks of New England and the Adirondacks. From freak falls to outrunning storms, from life-threatening hypothermia to the excitement of unlikely rescues, these tales inform as much as they entertain, teaching even the experienced climber that accidents can happen to anyone and that preparation and the ability to make split-second decisions can often mean the difference between life and death. Like sitting around the campfire sharing tales of terror and near death with your hiking buddies, this collection will appeal to the true outdoorsperson as well as the armchair adventurer.
Table of Contents
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- Title Page Copyright Page
- pp. iii-iv
- Dedication
- p. v
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xiii-xiv
- Part I: Weatherwise or Otherwise?: Presidential Range Perils and Other Tales above Tree Line
- Winter above Tree Line
- pp. 6-16
- Poking the Dragon
- pp. 17-22
- Porky Gulch and Above
- pp. 23-27
- Skiing Mount Washington
- pp. 28-32
- A Wild Day in the Presidentials
- pp. 33-35
- The Great Gulf
- pp. 39-45
- Tragedy among the Clouds
- pp. 46-53
- Green in the Whites
- pp. 54-61
- Extremes at the Top of Maine
- pp. 62-65
- Part II: Rescues in the Mountains
- Sub-Zero Weather Incapacitates
- pp. 76-77
- Fall from Saddleback Cliff
- pp. 79-84
- Injury Miles from Nowhere
- pp. 85-94
- A Mount Marcy Helicopter Rescue
- pp. 95-98
- A Fall from Grace
- pp. 99-102
- Midnight Rescue
- pp. 103-106
- Two Lives Saved by Search and Rescue Teams
- pp. 107-110
- Life-Threatening Conditions Cause Fatality
- pp. 111-112
- Break on Panther Mountain
- pp. 116-118
- A Case of the Umbles
- pp. 119-121
- Katahdin Ice Climber Meets Lady Luck
- pp. 122-126
- Part III: A Treacherous Place in the Peaks
- The Day “Hal’s Slide” Got Its Name
- pp. 129-138
- Rescue on Hal’s Slide
- pp. 139-140
- Hiker and Dog Fall on Wildcat Slide
- pp. 141-142
- Wild Days on the Wildcats
- pp. 143-144
- Part IV: Dangers of Water in the Mountains
- Waterfilled: In Which We Nearly Drown
- pp. 147-152
- Broken Compass
- pp. 153-167
- A Bridge to Safety?
- pp. 168-169
- Icy Passage through Iroquois Pass
- pp. 170-174
- A Nice Day Becomes an Ice Day
- pp. 175-178
- Frostbite!
- pp. 179-183
- Part V: Animal and Avian Behavior
- On the Horns of a Dilemma
- pp. 187-189
- Beware Bear Appetites
- pp. 190-194
- Dog Days in the High Peaks
- pp. 195-197
- The Ravens of Bondcliff
- p. 198
- Part VI: Odysseys: In Pursuit of the Possible
- Hiking the Appalachian Trail with a Tuba
- pp. 201-205
- Curses, Excursus: Hut-to-Hut Musings
- pp. 206-226
- Descending into the Maelstrom
- pp. 227-238
- Never Underestimate the Power of Pudding
- pp. 239-247
- Going Long with Fat Packs
- pp. 248-256
- Enjoying a Frozen World
- pp. 267-272
- Part VII: Lost, Unprepared, Leader Lapses, and Bushwhacked
- Bivouac at Twenty Below
- pp. 275-277
- Whiteout and Bivouac on Algonquin Peak
- pp. 278-280
- Most Difficult of the Winter 111
- pp. 281-284
- Well, Hale Fellow Not Met
- pp. 285-287
- A Chocorua Curse?
- pp. 288-293
- Democracy in Action
- pp. 294-297
- Don’t Shoot!
- pp. 298-300
- A Well-Guarded Fort—Escape Not Guaranteed
- pp. 301-310
- Coming Home
- pp. 311-315
- Contributors
- pp. 327-330
- About the Editor
- p. 331
Additional Information
ISBN
9781611683684
Related ISBN(s)
9781611682540
MARC Record
OCLC
855705327
Pages
334
Launched on MUSE
2012-12-20
Language
English
Open Access
No