Distant Peaks: A Journey through Cultures & Conquests.

Distant Peaks: A Journey through Cultures & Conquests

Peter Len

Millennial Mind Publishing

c/o American Book Publishing

5442 So. 900 East, #146, Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204

ISBN 9781589824607, $24.95, www.american-book.com

A young Peter Len was looking for a way to challenge his own physical and mental limits, and he found it on his first major mountain climb with his father and family friend. "Distant Peaks: A Journey through Cultures & Conquests," is written from the perspective of a non-professional climber, and documents the author's trips up some of the toughest peaks in Europe, Africa and South America. His experiences while climbing, as well as the tremendous amount of detail provided on everything from planning such trips to the actual ascents up the mountains, illustrate how it is possible for mountaineering to be enjoyed by anyone.

The great introduction has the author admitting to his limits, and how, although exciting to read, most climbing books seemed to be beyond his initial skill level. From here it does not take long for the reader to become familiar with climbing terms and equipment, as well as what to expect at the guide centers and on the practice runs that take place before the actual ascents. Personal observations (did you know Gatorade is good hot?), historical notes and side stories fill the pages, along with the author's joy of just being on the mountains. His desire to reach the summits, quelling his fears and pushing his physical abilities along the way, was not always successful, but the author never stopped trying in the twenty years that the book covers.

Peter Len is a "young writer," and even with the assistance he had, the writing is at times either quite choppy or could use some commas, but his adventures are captivating enough to keep readers interested. There is also no ending to the book--it just stops after the final climb. However, the Afterward, and Guide & Outfitter directory that follow, attempt to convince readers to take their first step in planning a trip of their own. Numerous photographs are provided, with this book useful for anyone who has a beginning interest in climbing, as well as die-hard enthusiasts who have yet to conquer the Matterhorn, Mt. Kenya, or Chimborazo. "Distant Peaks: A Journey through Cultures & Conquests" is also a decent try at a first book, and most certainly meets Peter Len's purpose of showing that with effort and desire, anything is possible.