Best Books

[wheezing donkey]

Rob,

I've read As Far As My feet... several times over the years and it never ceases to amaze but, do you believe it is true? It appears beyond human capability, OK he had been specifically trained for the environment but he would have been so weak when he set off that its hard to credit....

I read this at least 30 years ago - my late father received a copy from the book club that he was a member of. Remember that the guy was fuelled by the realisation that he was slowly being poisoned by the environment that he was working in - slave labour in a lead mine. With such a powerful incentive, physically weak people can achieve amazing feats. Once he had escaped and contacted 'friendlies' he would have been nutured back to an improved physical condition. I relished reading about the various groups and communities that he sojourned with in the 10 or so years that it took him to get out of USSR.
My other inspiring reads would include:-
From my childhood:-
Lorna Doone - it made me want to get out and explore the moors and search for hidden valleys
Davey Crockett and the Alamo.
Latterly:-
Studmarks on the Summits - Bill Smith
Wild trails to Far Horizons - Mike Cudahey, inspired me to do a Scottish C2C for my 50th.
Running High - Hugh Symmonds. Surely matches, if not surpasses, Manny Gorman's Corbett Round.
Feet in the Clouds - Richard Asquith. Very inspiring, but might have been a 'mistake' in the way that it has over popularised the BG with people who are not yet up to the task, or have little respect for the ethos of true hill-goers or the local residents.
Along the Clipper Way - Francis Chichester. Not an account of his voyage but a catalogue of incidents along his intended route, that he researched prior to the voyage.
An Island to Oneself - can't remember the author's name, a Kiwi who went and lived on a Pacific Ocean atoll for around 10 years in the 50's & 60's
Granted not a 'book' but back in the 80's some of the Fell Runner Magazine articles by Ian Leighton & Robin Price, on their multi-day exploits in Scotland - e.g. Four and a half day C2C ( Ardnamurchan Point to Montrose) over 42 Munroes, starting with packs that weighed just 8 lbs!
For p*** taking humour:-
The Ascent of Rum Doodle - a cynical view of traditional 'expedition' climbing.
Must go now, I'm suffering from "Work Desk Lassitude"!