Shining Mountain: The first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang

In 1976, Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented their plan to tackle the unclimbed West Wall of Changabang, the Shining Mountain, in the Garhwal Himalaya. Bonington was one of the more positive responses, as most felt the climb impossibly hard. The idea had been Joe Taskers, who had photographed the sheer, shining, white granite sweep of Changabangs West Wall on a previous expedition and asked Pete to return with him the following year. The book is a story of how climbing a mountain can become an all-consuming goal, of the tensions inevitable in forty days of isolation on a two-man expedition, and a record of the moment of joy upon reaching the summit ridge against all odds. It was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for literature in 1979, winning wide acclaim.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 04 March 2021
Publisher: Vertebrate Publishing Ltd

The Shining Mountain

In 1976, Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented Chris Bonington with a daring plan to climb the unclimbed West Wall of Changabang, known as the Shining Mountain. Bonington, one of the more positive responders, acknowledged that the climb was considered impossibly hard, especially for a two-man, lightweight expedition. The West Wall of Changabang was regarded as one of the most fearsome and technically challenging granite walls in the Garhwal Himalaya. It was considered more significant than anything done on Everest at the time.

Joe Tasker had the initial idea for the climb. He had captured the stunning, glistening white granite sweep of Changabangs West Wall during a previous expedition and invited Peter to join him the following year. Tasker provides a second voice throughout Boardmans story, which begins with acclimatization, sleeping in a Salford frozen food store, and progresses through three nights of hell, marooned in hammocks during a storm. The story unfolds the tensions that arise in forty days of isolation on a two-man expedition, as well as the moment of joy upon reaching the summit ridge against all odds.

The Shining Mountain

First published in 1978, The Shining Mountain is Peter Boardmans debut book. It is a deeply personal and honest story that is also entertaining, vividly descriptive, incredibly exciting, and always immensely readable. The book received the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for literature in 1979, winning widespread acclaim. Shortly after, Boardmans second book, Sacred Summits, was published.

Conclusion

The Shining Mountain is a remarkable testament to the human spirit and the indomitable determination of climbers to conquer the world's highest peaks. Boardmans story captures the essence of climbing a mountain, from the initial excitement and anticipation to the challenges and hardships faced during the expedition. It is a story of perseverance, teamwork, and the sheer joy of reaching the summit. Whether you are a seasoned climber or a novice reader, The Shining Mountain is a must-read that will inspire and captivate you.

Weight: 162g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839810534