Distant Peaks

by: Peter Len

Published by: Millennial Mind Publishing

Reviewed by Jan Warren

Distant Peaks is written in journal or travel log style. It documents one man’s love affair with climbing. In his words, it is his personal journey for strength and adventure, nothing more and nothing less. Peter Len depicts himself as an ordinary guy with a 9-to-5 job who found an extraordinary way to spice up his life: mountain climbing.

Distant Peaks is a no-frills account of his climbs to the Grand Tetons, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Mt. Kenya, Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. The trip log includes his introduction to climbing and his progression to advanced climber. Each chapter includes black and white photos of himself and the summits he’s conquered.

For safety reasons and to give the climber the best chance of reaching their goals, he strongly recommends booking well-qualified guides and outfitters in advance for any summit attempts and has included a guide and outfitters list in the back of the book.

I admit I was disappointed at the lack of a glossary of climbing terms or photos of equipment he mentions in passing. Such a glossary would have made the read much more enlightening and therefore, more enjoyable for this non-climber, armchair adventuress.

If you are looking for a read with hold-your-breath excitement and adventure, or an in-depth account of mountain climbing–this isn’t it. However, if you are looking for a easy-to-read climber’s trip log of above mentioned mountains, then you’ll enjoy this more realistic, uncluttered with details, journal.

Armchair Interviews says: One climber’s story of his adventures.

Author’s Web site: http://www.DistantPeaksClimbing.com