This outstanding reference work is the first English-language A-Z compendium on all topics related to mountains, including geological, geographical, and zoological terms, as well as many entries on significant explorers, surveyors, mountaineers, rock climbers, and skiers. Numerous entries also cover related pursuits such as logging, mining, skiing, climbing, and mountaineering. Definitions, explanations, and clarifications are contained in more than 2,300 entries that vary in length from a brief sentence to detailed overviews of more complex subjects. The Mountain Encyclopedia is invaluable as a source of data and information, but it is also enjoyable to read straight through. Featuring 400 breathtaking color photographs of mountains, volcanoes, animal and plant life on mountains, rock and ice formations, and historic shots of climbers and expeditions, outdoor enthusiasts and all others who are interested in mountains will find this a beautiful reference work as well as an engaging read. Black-and-white historical images, technical drawings, and typographical maps of mountains throughout the world illustrate many of the detailed entries. Notable is the fact that many of the entries and photographs are based on the authors' first-hand experiences skiing, hiking, bouldering, climbing, and mountaineering throughout the world to obtain the extraordinary images and data. For readers who are fascinated by facts and figures, listings of the world's 1,000 highest peaks, 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps, 6,000-meter peaks in the Andes, North America's 14,000-Footers, the world's highest volcanoes, major unclimbed peaks above 7,000-meters, and the high points in the 50 United States and the 13 Canadian provinces and territories conclude this essential manual to the mountains.

"The volume is functional as a compendium of mountaineering information...It could certainly be useful in a public library setting..." - Booklist, 1/1/2006

"With no comparable equivalent, this resource is an easy-to-use, interesting, inexpensive, and worthwhile addition to any reference collection. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students; general readers." - CHOICE

"A physicist and a reference librarian who are avid mountaineers have compiled this excellent broad, yet fundamental, encyclopedia on mountains. The A-Z listings cover everything connected to mountains, yet are brief, basic, and easy to use....This book is highly recommended for both public and academic libraries." - American Reference Books Annual

"This compendium is presented as the first in English devoted to mountain-related topics. Avid climber/US physicist Hartemann introduces the encyclopedia with his reflections on why we are so attracted to mountains. He and fellow enthusiast Hauptman (St. Cloud State U.) feature terms and information on aspects including mountain geography, geology, ecology, sports, and noted explorers and mountaineers. Appendices list the highest mountains worldwide and by region, and major unscaled peaks. Visual offerings include topographical maps, technical drawings, and photographic images. J. Tenzing Norgay, whose father climbed Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, supplies the foreword." - Reference and Research Book News

"Any insider in the mountaineering world will love this book....This will go directly into any self-respecting reference and personal collection on the subject...Likely to delight are about 100 pages of colour photographs...deeply evocative of the compelling attractions and memories of mountaineering....the bibliographic side of this encyclopedia is strong, with an expertly-chosen bibliography..." - s