One Man's Everest: The Autobiography of Kenton Cool

Description

The autobiography of the only British climber and adventurer to have conquered Everest twelve times and the greatest high-altitude mountaineer of a generation, Kenton Cool. Kenton Cool is the finest alpine climber of this generation. His accomplishments are staggering. He has summited Everest twelve times. He is the first person in history to climb the three Everest peaks, the so-called Triple Crown, in one climb, a feat previously thought impossible. He was nominated for the prestigious piolet d'Or in 2004 for climbing a previously unclimbed route on Annapurna III. In 2012 he fulfilled the Olympic Games pledge of placing a 1924 gold medal on the Everest summit. He is the only Briton to have skied down two 8000-metre mountains, and in 2009 he guided Sir Ranulph Fiennes to the summit of Everest, helping to raise over e3 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care. His accomplishments are all the more extraordinary considering an incident in the summer of 1996 which tore Kenton's world apart. Whilst climbing in Wales, he broke a handhold on a route aptly called 'Major Headstress' and fell to the ground with such force that he shattered both his heel bones. Initially told he would never walk unaided again, Kenton spent four weeks in hospital, had three operations, three and a half months in a wheelchair and months of rehab. Today he is still in pain and after a long day in the mountains it's not uncommon to see him struggling to walk or moving around on his hands and knees. Yet he still climbs. 'Why do you do it?' people ask him. This book tells why.

Kenton's obsession with rock climbing developed at school and was furthered at the University of Leeds. In 1996 he suffered a fall from a rock face and shattered both heel bones. After rehabilitation Kenton climbed extensively all over the world - establishing new routes and first ascents on peaks in Alaska, France and India. In recent years the Olympic pledge and the Everest Triple Crown have cemented Kenton's position as one of Britain's most high-profile and celebrated climbers. He is regularly featured on BBC TV and Radio and has been profiled in the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, along with adventure publications such as Outside Magazine and Sidetracked. He lives in Gloucestershire with his wife, Jazz, and children, Saffron and Willoughby.

One of Britain's finest mountaineers, One Man's Everest is Kenton Cool at his best: honest and true, enthusiastic and exuberant. He brings these marvellous mountaineering stories to life as he does in his captivating lectures. -- Doug Scott Eleven times on the Everest summit. Kenton Cool is without doubt the most formidable mountaineer of his generation. -- Sir Ranulph Fiennes I have seen a compassionate and gentle side to Kenton that others with equal drive and commitment don't have. His record in the world's mighty mountains is remarkable. I hope he is admired as much for the man he is, as his achievements. -- His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, First Crown Prince of Bhutan I've watched Kenton's development over the last decade into one of the world's pre-eminent climbers. The time he has spent at 8000m is almost unparalleled, and his ability to succeed in the Death Zone where others fail stands testament to his ability as a mountaineer as well as his personal drive and ambition. -- Sir Chris Bonington One Man's Everest is told with great honesty. It is a tale of immense enthusiasm and remarkable determination. The writing makes you feel as if you are eating your way through a stick of Blackpool rock - every page has Kenton Cool written right through it. * Climber Magazine *