The Mountain Within: The True Story of the Most Extreme Free-Ascent Alpine Climber in the World

Alexander Huber may not be a household name for most American readers, but a lifetime of remarkable free-ascent climbs has made him a legend in the climbing community. Kicking off at a brisk pace, Huber's memoir details a 16-meter fall he sustained on a climb in Yosemite. The book then shifts to his childhood in Germany, and the author describes learning to climb from his father and setting off with his brother (who could drive) to climb the Dolmite mountains in Italy. The narrative momentum grinds to a halt when Huber discusses the many mountains he has climbed in his career, the details of which will likely be lost on most readers. Huber assumes that readers know a piton from a bivouac, but a glossary would have been helpful (there is no explanation of the difference between "sport climbing" and "free climbing" for instance). While Huber's account will appeal to readers interesting in mountaineering and extreme outdoor sports, its myopic focus may be lost on a more general audience. Photos. (July)