{"product_id":"painted-mountains-first-ascents-in-the-indian-himalaya-9781911342939","title":"Painted Mountains: First Ascents in the Indian Himalaya","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e'The mountains are crystal under the blue sky, as we climb up our untouched peak. This is why we climb.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this fast-paced, refreshingly honest account, \u003cb\u003eStephen Venables\u003c\/b\u003e invites you on an adventure like no other. Delving deeply into the unknown, the unclimbed and the undiscovered, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePainted Mountains\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e details the stories of two very different expeditions: the first ascent of 6,000-metre \u003cb\u003eKishtwar-Shivling\u003c\/b\u003e in the \u003cb\u003eIndian Himalaya\u003c\/b\u003e alongside Dick Renshaw, before embarking on an Indo-British Expedition led by Harish Kapadia to \u003cb\u003eRimo\u003c\/b\u003e: the Painted Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Most of us are content to settle for some sort of compromise between the desire to survive and the desire to retain an element of uncertainty.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVenables\u003c\/b\u003e - the first Briton to climb \u003cb\u003eEverest\u003c\/b\u003e without oxygen - does not shy away from the obvious challenges that come hand-in-hand with tackling expeditions such as these; this account details the highs and the lows, the dropped equipment, the toll of \u003cb\u003eextreme conditions\u003c\/b\u003e and the shining successes of reaching a summit - all while retaining a sense of humour and an unwavering enthusiasm for the thrill of the climb. Venables' get-up-and-go attitude makes this a delightful read; he is never one to shy away from an opportunity, be it arisen from a year-long dream or a spontaneous invite.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePainted Mountains\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e is an invaluable education for anyone who is interested in the greater mountain ranges explored in this book, as well as an inspirational tale of the commitment to a dream, the birth of new friendships and the innumerable rewards of time spent in the mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStephen Venables\u003c\/b\u003e is a mountaineer, writer, broadcaster and public speaker, and was the first Briton to climb \u003cb\u003eEverest\u003c\/b\u003e without supplementary oxygen. Everest was a thrilling highlight in a career that has taken Stephen right through the \u003cb\u003eHimalaya\u003c\/b\u003e, from Afghanistan to Tibet, making first ascents of many previously unknown mountains. His adventures have also taken him to the \u003cb\u003eRockies\u003c\/b\u003e, the \u003cb\u003eAndes\u003c\/b\u003e, the Antarctic island South Georgia, East Africa, South Africa and of course the European \u003cb\u003eAlps\u003c\/b\u003e, where he has climbed and skied for over forty years. The stories of these travels have enthralled Stephen's lecture audiences all over the world. He has appeared in \u003cb\u003etelevision documentaries\u003c\/b\u003e for the BBC, ITV and National Geographic, presented for Radio 4 and appeared in the IMAX movie \u003ci\u003eShackleton's Antarctic Adventure\u003c\/i\u003e. Stephen has also authored several \u003cb\u003ebest-selling books\u003c\/b\u003e on climbing in the high mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Vertebrate Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50364026388754,"sku":"9781911342939","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_79edb335-be65-4cdb-933a-fa406f1118ad.jpg?v=1728423094","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/painted-mountains-first-ascents-in-the-indian-himalaya-9781911342939","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}