Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

“The definitive guide to mountains and climbing . . .”―Conrad Anker

For nearly 60 years it’s been revered as the “bible” of mountaineering–and now it’s even better than ever

The best-selling instructional text for new and intermediate climbers for more than half a century
New edition―fully updated techniques and all-new illustrations
Researched and written by a team of expert climbers
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills
is the text beloved by generations of new climbers―the standard for climbing education around the world where it has been translated into 12 languages. For the all-new 9th Edition, committees comprosed of active climbers and climbing educators reviewed every chapter of instruction, and discussed updates with staff from the American Alpine Club (AAC), the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), and the Access Fund. They also worked with professional members of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), to review their work and ensure that the updated textbook includes the most current best practices for both alpine and rock climbing instruction.

From gear selection to belay and repel techniques, from glacier travel to rope work, to safety, safety, and more safety―there is no more comprehensive and thoroughly vetted training manual for climbing than the standard set by