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The Third Pole: My Everest climb to find the truth about Mallory and Irvine
by Mark Synnott'The best Everest book I've read since Into Thin Air. Synnott's climbing skills take you places few will ever dare to tread, but it's his writing that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.' - Mark AdamsVeteran climber Mark Synnott never planned on climbing Mount Everest. But a hundred-year mystery lured him into an expedition where a history of passionate adventure, chilling tragedy, and human aspiration unfolded.George Mallory and Sandy Irvine were last seen in 1924, eight hundred feet shy of Everest's summit. A century later, we still don't know whether they achieved their goal of being first to reach the top, decades before Hillary and Norgay in 1953. Irvine carried a camera with him to record their attempt, but it, along with his body, had never been found. Did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit and take a photograph before they fell to their deaths?Mark Synnott made his own ascent up the infamous North Face to try and find Irvine's body and the camera. But during a season described as 'the one that broke Everest', an awful traffic jam of climbers at the summit resulted in tragic deaths. Synnott's quest became something bigger than the original mystery that drew him there - an attempt to understand the madness of the mountain and why it continues to have a magnetic draw on explorers.Exploring how science, business and politics have changed who climbs Everest, The Third Pole is a thrilling portrait of the mountain spanning a century.
The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest
by Mark Synnott*One of the 57 Most Anticipated Books Of 2021—Elle Shivering, exhausted, gasping for oxygen, beyond doubt . . . A hundred-year mystery lured veteran climber Mark Synnott into an unlikely expedition up Mount Everest during the spring 2019 season that came to be known as “the Year Everest Broke.” <P><P>What he found was a gripping human story of impassioned characters from around the globe and a mountain that will consume your soul—and your life—if you let it. The mystery? <P><P>On June 8, 1924, George Mallory and Sandy Irvine set out to stand on the roof of the world, where no one had stood before. They were last seen eight hundred feet shy of Everest’s summit still “going strong” for the top. Could they have succeeded decades before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? Irvine is believed to have carried a Kodak camera with him to record their attempt, but it, along with his body, had never been found. Did the frozen film in that camera have a photograph of Mallory and Irvine on the summit before they disappeared into the clouds, never to be seen again? Kodak says the film might still be viable. . . . <P><P> Mark Synnott made his own ascent up the infamous North Face along with his friend Renan Ozturk, a filmmaker using drones higher than any had previously flown. Readers witness first-hand how Synnott&’s quest led him from oxygen-deprivation training to archives and museums in England, to Kathmandu, the Tibetan high plateau, and up the North Face into a massive storm. The infamous traffic jams of climbers at the very summit immediately resulted in tragic deaths. Sherpas revolted. Chinese officials turned on Synnott’s team. An Indian woman miraculously crawled her way to frostbitten survival. Synnott himself went off the safety rope—one slip and no one would have been able to save him—committed to solving the mystery. Eleven climbers died on Everest that season, all of them mesmerized by an irresistible magic. The Third Pole is a rapidly accelerating ride to the limitless joy and horror of human obsession.
The Third Pole: My Everest climb to find the truth about Mallory and Irvine
by Mark SynnottSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 SPORTS BOOK AWARDSVeteran climber Mark Synnott never planned on climbing Mount Everest, but a hundred-year mystery lured him into an expedition--and an awesome history of passionate adventure, chilling tragedy, and human aspiration unfolded.On June 8, 1924, George Mallory and "Sandy" Irvine set out to stand on the roof of the world, where no one had stood before. They were last seen eight hundred feet shy of Everest's summit. A century later, we still don't know whether they achieved their goal, decades before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay did, in 1953. Irvine carried a Kodak camera with him to record their attempt, but it, along with his body, had never been found. Did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit and take a photograph before they fell to their deaths?Mark Synnott made his own ascent up the infamous North Face along with a filmmaker using drone technology higher than any had previously flown. His goal: to find Irvine's body and the camera he carried that might have held a summit photo on its still-viable film. Synnott's quest led him from oxygen-deprivation training to archives and museums in England, to Kathmandu, the Tibetan High Plateau, and up the North Face into a storm during a season described as the one that broke Everest. An awful traffic jam of climbers at the very summit resulted in tragic deaths. Sherpas revolted. Chinese government agents turned adversarial. An Indian woman crawled her way to safety and survival. Synnott himself went off the safety rope--if he had slipped, no one would have been able to save him--desperate to solve the mystery.A magnificent story a la The Lost City of Z, The Third Pole conveys the miracle of a mountain the world wants to own, and the first explorers who may have done so.(P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
The Impossible Climb (Young Readers Adaptation): Alex Honnold, El Capitan, and a Climber's Life
by Mark Synnott Hampton SynnottA middle grade adaptation of the adult bestseller that chronicles what The New York Times deemed "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever": Alex Honnold's free-solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.On June 3, 2017, as seen in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, Alex Honnold achieved what most had written off as unattainable: a 3,000-foot vertical climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, without a rope or harness. At the time, only a few knew what he was attempting to do, but after topping out at 9:28 am, having spent just under four hours on this historic feat, author Mark Synnott broke the story for National Geographic and the world watched in awe.Now adapted for a younger audience, The Impossible Climb tells the gripping story of how a quiet kid from Sacramento, California, grew up to capture the attention of the entire globe by redefining the limits of human potential through hard work, discipline, and a deep respect for the natural world.
Passion and Addiction in Sports and Exercise (Routledge Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity)
by Attila Szabo Zsolt DemetrovicsPassion and Addiction in Sports and Exercise is about the bright and dark aspects of sports and exercise behavior and revolves around two closely related yet distinct concepts. Passion is a joyful and healthy reflection of one’s enjoyment and dedication to an adopted sport or exercise. At the same time, exercise addiction is an obligatory and must-be-done training regimen. This book is the first to attempt to explain the significant differences between passion and addiction in sports and exercise. This book presents an overview of three dimensions of passion and offers a new frame to contextualize exercise addition. The work also addresses the misinterpretation of certain aspects of training (e.g., intensity, frequency, commitment) often related to addiction. After introducing the health benefits of exercise, the book looks at the passion for sports and exercise training and the transition into maladaptive practice. Then it presents definitions and theoretical models for exercise addiction. It then examines exercise addiction cases while also illustrating how excessive or high exercise volumes are beneficial instead of problematic. The last chapter offers a new approach for a better understanding of exercise addiction. Passion and Addiction in Sports and Exercise is helpful for students, researchers, and clinicians interested in sport and exercise psychology, athletic training, behavioral addictions, and physical
Football in the Nordic Countries: Practices, Equality and Influence (Critical Research in Football)
by Mihaly Szerovay Arto Nevala Hannu ItkonenThis book explores football culture, organisation and development in the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. These countries represent an important case study in sport culture, policy and management, being shaped by unique traditions in their civil society and in social welfare and public policy. The first part of the book explores the development path of football in each country, looking at how football arrived in Scandinavia and how it has been transformed from a voluntary civic activity into a professional sport while becoming closely attached to the global football system. The second part highlights key issues – including historical, contemporary and critical aspects – across three themes: professionalisation and changing practices; equality and gender; and supporters, audiences and culture. Written by a team of authors with a blend of experience as academics and practitioners in football, the book traces the contours of the distinctive Nordic model that occupies a prominent position in the global football system. Shining fascinating new light on the relationship between football and wider society, this is invaluable reading for students and researchers interested in football, sport management, sport policy, or the history, culture or sociology of sport and for anyone involved in the game.
New Ethnographies of Football in Europe: People, Passions, Politics (Football Research In An Enlarged Europe)
by Nina Szogs Alexandra Schwell Malgorzata Z. Kowalska Michal BuchowskiFootball has emerged as an important symbolic field through which various social, cultural, political, economic, and historical dimensions and antagonisms are negotiated. This volume covers a variety of themes illuminating the multiple ways that football impacts on people's everyday lives. Using anthropological research methods and data collected from ethnographic fieldwork, the contributors scrutinize not only the social fields of football fans and the specific socio-cultural contexts in which they are embedded, but also other actors beyond the pitch, and the possibilities for both agency and subversion. Taking into account processes of Europeanization, globalization, commercialization and migration, the collection offers fresh insights into fan identity formations and practices and highlights the importance of anthropology's self-reflexive and actor-centred perspective.
Wild Cards (Orca Echoes)
by Jeff SzpirglasMatt loves Monster Zap cards. No, no, Matt LOVES Monster Zap cards. He has Monster Zap toys, reads Monster Zap books and wears Monster Zap underwear. Matt and his friends like to trade the cards at school, as the schoolyard is so empty and dirty, there isn't much else for them to do at recess. But when kids start fighting over Monster Zap and the cards are banned, Matt realizes that the school has big problems, maybe even bigger problems than the fights the cards caused. With the help of their teacher, and a superhero in disguise, Matt and his classmates set out to save Monster Zap and end up doing a lot more than that.
Changing on the Fly: Hockey through the Voices of South Asian Canadians (Critical Issues in Sport and Society)
by Courtney SztoHockey and multiculturalism are often noted as defining features of Canadian culture; yet, rarely are we forced to question the relationship and tensions between these two social constructs. This book examines the growing significance of hockey in Canada’s South Asian communities. The Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi broadcast serves as an entry point for a broader consideration of South Asian experiences in hockey culture based on field work and interviews conducted with hockey players, parents, and coaches in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. This book seeks to inject more “color” into hockey’s historically white dominated narratives and representations by returning hockey culture to its multicultural roots. It encourages alternative and multiple narratives about hockey and cultural citizenship by asking which citizens are able to contribute to the webs of meaning that form the nation’s cultural fabric.
Money and Football: A Soccernomics Guide
by Stefan SzymanskiModern soccer is big business. From the ill-received takeover of Manchester United by the Glazer family to Paris Saint Germain's current shopping spree for the best footballers on the planet, soccer finance has become an increasingly important part of the game. Barely a summer goes by now without a cherished club going into administration or a wealthy businessman funding a mid table team's ascension to Champions League competitor. Meanwhile, the twice-annual multi-million dollar merry-go-round of transfer season sees players (and now managers) signed for sums thought impossible just a decade ago. Understanding soccer finance has become essential for comprehending the beautiful game. But for many fans, soccer finance remains, frustratingly, a world that is opaque and difficult to grasp. Stefan Szymanski, co-author of the bestselling Soccernomics, tackles every soccer fan's burning questions in Money and Soccer: A Soccernomics Guide. From the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s, through to the impact of TV money both at home and abroad in the 1990s and 2000s, Szymanski explains how money, or lack of, affects your favorite club. Drawing on extensive research into financial records dating back to the 1970s, Szymanski provides clear analysis of the way that clubs have transformed in the modern era. This book isn't limited to European clubs. Szymanski, a renowned expert on sports management and economics, looks at what we can learn from comparing the ascension of Europe's biggest clubs to their lofty perches and with new financial models across the world. Through careful research and informative stories drawn from around the globe, Szymanski provides an accessible guide to the world of soccer finance.
Playbooks and Checkbooks: An Introduction to the Economics of Modern Sports
by Stefan SzymanskiWhat economic rules govern sports? How does the sports business differ from other businesses? Playbooks and Checkbooks takes a fascinating step-by-step look at the fundamental economic relationships shaping modern sports. Focusing on the ways that the sports business does and does not overlap with economics, the book uncovers the core paradox at the heart of the sports industry. Unlike other businesses, the sports industry would not survive if competitors obliterated each other to extinction, financially or otherwise--without rivals there is nothing to sell. Playbooks and Checkbooks examines how this unique economic truth plays out in the sports world, both on and off the field. Noted economist Stefan Szymanski explains how modern sporting contests have evolved; how sports competitions are organized; and how economics has guided antitrust, monopoly, and cartel issues in the sporting world. Szymanski considers the motivation provided by prize money, uncovers discrepancies in players' salaries, and shows why the incentive structure for professional athletes encourages them to cheat through performance-enhancing drugs and match fixing. He also explores how changes in media broadcasting allow owners and athletes to play to a global audience, and why governments continue to publicly fund sporting events such as the Olympics, despite almost certain financial loss. Using economic tools to reveal the complex arrangements of an industry, Playbooks and Checkbooks illuminates the world of sports through economics, and the world of economics through sports.
Money and Soccer: Why Chievo Verona, Unterhaching, And Scunthorpe United Will Never Win The Champions League, Why Manchester City, Roma, And Paris St. Germain Can, And Why Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, And Manchester United Cannot Be Stopped
by Stefan Szymanski Introduction by Simon KuperModern soccer is big business. From the ill-received takeover of Manchester United by the Glazer family to Paris Saint Germain's current shopping spree for the best footballers on the planet, soccer finance has become an increasingly important part of the game. Barely a summer goes by now without a cherished club going into administration or a wealthy businessman funding a mid table team's ascension to Champions League competitor. Meanwhile, the twice-annual multi-million dollar merry-go-round of transfer season sees players (and now managers) signed for sums thought impossible just a decade ago. Understanding soccer finance has become essential for comprehending the beautiful game. But for many fans, soccer finance remains, frustratingly, a world that is opaque and difficult to grasp. Stefan Szymanski, co-author of the bestselling Soccernomics, tackles every soccer fan's burning questions in Money and Soccer: A Soccernomics Guide. From the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s, through to the impact of TV money both at home and abroad in the 1990s and 2000s, Szymanski explains how money, or lack of, affects your favorite club. Drawing on extensive research into financial records dating back to the 1970s, Szymanski provides clear analysis of the way that clubs have transformed in the modern era. This book isn't limited to European clubs. Szymanski, a renowned expert on sports management and economics, looks at what we can learn from comparing the ascension of Europe's biggest clubs to their lofty perches and with new financial models across the world. Through careful research and informative stories drawn from around the globe, Szymanski provides an accessible guide to the world of soccer finance.
Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Spain, Germany, and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia—and Even Iraq—Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World’s Most Popular Sport
by Stefan Szymanski Simon KuperSoccernomics pioneers a new way of looking at soccer through meticulous, empirical analysis and incisive, witty commentary. The San Francisco Chronicle describes it as “the most intelligent book ever written about soccer.” This World Cup edition features new material, including a provocative examination of how soccer clubs might actually start making profits, why that’s undesirable, and how soccer’s never had it so good.
Science and Football II: Proceedings Of The Second World Congress Of Science And Football, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 22nd-25th May 1991
by T. Reilly J. Clarys A. StibbeThis book includes all the papers presented at a second World Congress of Science and Football (Liverpool 1987) (Eindhoven).
Secret Tactics
by Kazumi TabataIn the tradition of The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings, one of America's most experienced teachers of karate offers new interpretations of fundamental martial arts texts. The book includes new translations of essays on leadership, correct behavior, character, and values. "Hereditary Manual of Fighting Techniques" by Yagyu Tajimanokami Munenori explores the relationship between Zen philosophy and warfare and the mental preparation for successful fighting. In "The Ultimate Sword," Takuan Soho describes the unremitting effort that must be undertaken to become a true master of strategy. He uses key aspects of sword-fighting strategy to shed light on the path to self-realization in "The Miracle of Immovable Wisdom." Kotoda Yahei Toshisada emphasizes the importance of training and learning techniques over theory in 'Technical Study of Kenpo." In "The School of Two Heavens," Musashi Miyamoto applies the principles of sword fighting to military arts and politics. Mastuura Saizan focuses on strengthening the weak points of the human mind, and exploiting the natural movements of the human body, in "Jyoseihi Kendan." And "Tengu's Dialogue on the Martial Arts" by Issai Chosanshi is a manual for students of the martial arts, presented in the form of a dialogue with a master.
Secret Tactics
by Kazumi TabataIn the tradition of The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings, one of America's most experienced teachers of karate offers new interpretations of fundamental martial arts texts. The book includes new translations of essays on leadership, correct behavior, character, and values. "Hereditary Manual of Fighting Techniques" by Yagyu Tajimanokami Munenori explores the relationship between Zen philosophy and warfare and the mental preparation for successful fighting. In "The Ultimate Sword," Takuan Soho describes the unremitting effort that must be undertaken to become a true master of strategy. He uses key aspects of sword-fighting strategy to shed light on the path to self-realization in "The Miracle of Immovable Wisdom." Kotoda Yahei Toshisada emphasizes the importance of training and learning techniques over theory in 'Technical Study of Kenpo." In "The School of Two Heavens," Musashi Miyamoto applies the principles of sword fighting to military arts and politics. Mastuura Saizan focuses on strengthening the weak points of the human mind, and exploiting the natural movements of the human body, in "Jyoseihi Kendan." And "Tengu's Dialogue on the Martial Arts" by Issai Chosanshi is a manual for students of the martial arts, presented in the form of a dialogue with a master.
Warrior Wisdom
by Kazumi TabataIn his earlier books, Grandmaster Kazumi Tabata distills for Western readers the essence of famous Asian martial arts classics such as The Hagakure and The Heart of Sutra--providing martial artists and anyone seeking success in life with the means to access the invaluable secrets of these works with maximum practicality to overcome obstacles in their path.Now, in this third and final book in the series, Tabata presents a brilliant analysis for modern readers of the most famous work of martial strategy, The Art of War of Sun Tzu. Warrior Wisdom also includes an analysis of the lesser-known The Tactics of Shokatsu Komei, as well as additional warrior tactics that have enabled the author to become a Grandmaster in Karate and one of the most influential martial artists in North America.Since he was sent to the United States by his master Isao Obata in the 1960s to promote Karate, Tabata has continually refined his teaching methods and distillations of classic Asian knowledge to enable Westerners to truly understand and take to heart these valuable lessons. This book should be read by anyone interested in learning the ancient wisdom of these timeless classics to overcome challenges and excel in everything they do.
Mind Power
by Kazumi Tabata Kaiichi HasumiLife is full of adversities. There comes a time when education, social status, fame, fortune, and even family ties all become useless. At a decisive moment like this, the ability to focus one's entire being--to harness one's total spiritual and mental energy--is required for survival and success. In this book, Master Kazumi Tabata shares his knowledge in how to achieve this goal.When beginning any martial arts discipline, students study physical techniques. Only after much time and intense practice do these techniques become second nature. Yet there is a higher level where you feel at one with yourself, your opponent, and with the world around you . Your opponent moves in slow motion, whereas you move without thought, and you become unbeatable.In Mind Power: Secret Strategies for the Martial Arts, Kazumi Tabata, Grandmaster in the Shotokan and Shorinji styles of Karate, offers his personal teachings as to how martial arts students can reach the point where time seems to slow down, quick movements are seen in slow motion, and the full potential of one's inner power can be harnessed.Chapters Include:StrategyBasic Laws of the Body and MindStrategy of a Virtuous ManHow to Interpert Your Mind
Mind Power
by Kazumi Tabata Kaiichi HasumiAt the earliest stages of learning a martial art, students almost exclusively study the physical techniques. It is only after much time and intensive practice that these techniques become automatic. Reaching the point of ingrained movements is a major step in mastering a martial art. Yet when the practitioner learns to become one with himself, the opponent and with nature itself, when the opponent's moves appear as if in slow motion, the practitioner moves without thought and becomes unbeatable.In Mind Power, Master Kazumi Tabata, Grand Master in the Shotokan and Shorinji styles of Karate, offers his personal teachings as to how martial arts students can reach the point where time seems to slow down, quick movements are seen in slow motion, and the full potential of one's inner power can be harnessed.
Mind Power
by Kazumi Tabata Kaiichi HasumiAt the earliest stages of learning a martial art, students almost exclusively study the physical techniques. It is only after much time and intensive practice that these techniques become automatic. Reaching the point of ingrained movements is a major step in mastering a martial art. Yet when the practitioner learns to become one with himself, the opponent and with nature itself, when the opponent's moves appear as if in slow motion, the practitioner moves without thought and becomes unbeatable.In Mind Power, Master Kazumi Tabata, Grand Master in the Shotokan and Shorinji styles of Karate, offers his personal teachings as to how martial arts students can reach the point where time seems to slow down, quick movements are seen in slow motion, and the full potential of one's inner power can be harnessed.
The Sacred Acre: The Ed Thomas Story
by Mark TabbOn a Sunday in May 2008, an F-5 tornado struck the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, killing eight people and destroying 250 homes and businesses within 34 seconds. The next day, Parkersburg's beloved football coach, Ed Thomas, made a stunning prediction: 'God willing, we will play our first home game here on this field this season. ' One hundred days later, the home team scored a victory on the field they dubbed 'The Sacred Acre,' serving as a galvanizing point for the town to band together and rebuild. But just as Parkersburg was recovering, another devastating tragedy struck. While working with a group of football and volleyball players early one morning, one of Ed's former students walked in and gunned him down point blank. Ed Thomas was 58. The murder of this hometown hero spread across national news headlines. Ed's community and family reeled from shock. Yet the story doesn't end here. What happened next proves that even a double tragedy is no match for faith, love . . . and the power of forgiveness.
How Far Can You Go?: My 25-Year Quest to Walk Again
by Mark Tabb John MacleanAn inspirational memoir by a man who became an elite wheelchair athlete after suffering a catastrophic spinal injury and who finally walked again 25 years after his accident. After two years of intense physical therapy following his crippling accident, John Maclean set a new course for himself when his father encouraged him to embrace his new reality and asked: "How far can you go?" Inspired, Maclean became the first paraplegic to complete the Ironman World Championship and swim the English Channel before going on to win a silver medal for rowing at the 2008 Paralympic Games--yet these achievements did not come easy or on his first try. But with fierce tenacity, determination, and the love of family and friends Maclean was able to see each dream realized. Yet he longed for one more victory: to walk on the beach with his family, holding his wife's hand. Through a radical therapy, he retrained his mind and challenged conventional thinking to walk again after 25 years in a wheelchair. HOW FAR CAN YOU GO? is his amazing story.
Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away: A Love Letter to My Family
by Mark Tabb Ben Utecht"In this book, Ben doesn't allow injury, setbacks, and disappointments to define him. His faith and love for his family provide perspective in the midst of challenging circumstances." --Tony Dungy, Hall of Fame Coach and author of Quiet Strength "I strongly encourage every parent, every child, and every person who plays or plans to play football and other high impact contact sports to read this book and become enlightened and empowered by Ben's powerful story." --Dr. Bennet Omalu, featured in the movie Concussion After five major concussions, NFL tight-end Ben Utecht of the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals is losing his memories. This is his powerful and emotional love letter to his wife and daughters--whom he someday may not recognize--and an inspiring message for all to live every moment fully.Ben Utecht has accumulated a vast treasure of memories: tossing a football in the yard with his father, meeting his wife, with whom he'd build a loving partnership and bring four beautiful daughters into the world, writing and performing music, catching touchdown passes from quarterback Peyton Manning, and playing a Super Bowl Championship watched by ninety-three million people. But the game he has built his living on, the game he fell in love with as a child, is taking its toll in a devastating way. After at least five major concussions--and an untold number of micro-concussions--Ben suffered multiple mild traumatic brain injuries that have erased important memories. Knowing that his wife and daughters could someday be beyond his reach and desperate for them to understand how much he loves them, he recorded his memories for them to hold on to after his essential self is gone. Counting the Days While My Mind Slips Away chronicles his remarkable journey from his early days throwing a football back and forth with his father to speaking about the long-term effects of concussions before Congress, and how his faith keeps him strong and grounded as he looks toward an uncertain future. Ben recounts the experiences that have shaped his life and imparts the lessons he's learned along the way. Emotionally powerful, inspiring, and uplifting, Ben's story will captivate and encourage you to make the most of every day and treasure all of your memories.
Fox Is Late (My First I Can Read)
by Corey R. TaborFun-loving, mischievous Fox is late for lunch, so he hops on his skateboard. Go, Fox, go!What is this winning trickster character doing, zooming over and under and around on his skateboard? His animal friends follow him home to find out—and get a big surprise!Fox Is Late is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. Other Fox books include: Fox the Tiger, Fox and the Jumping Contest, and Fox and the Bike Ride.
Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth
by James M. TaborThe deepest cave on earth was a prize that had remained unclaimed for centuries, long after every other ultimate discovery had been made. This is the story of the men and women who risked everything to find it, earning their place in history beside the likes of Peary, Amundsen, Hillary, and Armstrong.In 2004, two great scientist-explorers attempted to find the bottom of the world. Bold, American Bill Stone was committed to the vast Cheve Cave, located in southern Mexico and deadly even by supercave standards. On the other side of the globe, legendary Ukrainian explorer Alexander Klimchouk - Stone's opposite in temperament and style - had targeted Krubera, a freezing nightmare of a supercave in the Republic of Georgia.Blind Descent explores both the brightest and darkest aspects of the timeless human urge to discover - to be first. It is also a thrilling epic about a pursuit that makes even extreme mountaineering and ocean exploration pale by comparison. These supercavers spent months in multiple camps almost two vertical miles deep and many more miles from their caves' exits. They had to contend with thousand-foot drops, deadly flooded tunnels, raging whitewater rivers, monstrous waterfalls, mile-long belly crawls, and much more. Perhaps even worse were the psychological horrors produced by weeks plunged into absolute, perpetual darkness, beyond all hope of rescue, including a particularly insidious derangement called 'The Rapture'.Blind Descent is a testament to human survival and endurance - and to two extraordinary men whose relentless pursuit of greatness led them to heights of triumph and depths of tragedy neither could have imagined.