For over thirty years and through four editions, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills has been the "bible" of the climbing world, initiating thousands of people to the joys and challenges of wilderness exploration. An essential teaching tool and resource for novice to advanced mountaineers, Freedom is the standard text for climbing courses throughout the United States and abroad, and even has been used as a training manual by the U.S. military.Completely updated and revised, the 5th edition redefines the basics with the latest information on climbing techniques, snow and glacier travel, weather, safety, first aid, and leadership. Expanded chapters on first steps, belaying, and aid climbing and pitoncraft, plus several new sections on rock climbing, help broaden skill and expertise. Freedom covers the latest in equipment, including plastic boots, specialized rock shoes, step-in/clamp-on crampons, interior-frame packs, modern spring-loaded camming devices, ice-climbing tools, and belay and rappel devices. A completely new chapter on winter and expedition climbing rounds out this exhaustive edition, making Freedom the most comprehensive and contemporary source available on mountaineering.More than 350 all-new illustrations, created from photographs of climbers demonstrating specific procedures, depict and clarify instructions in the text. And, in keeping with today's environmental concerns, Freedom emphasizes clean climbing and low-impact wilderness use.The 5th edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is a consensus of accepted, safe methods and principles of mountaineering. Written and coordinated by the Mountaineers, a Seattle-based outdoor organization founded in 1906, it draws upon the knowledge of active, experienced mountaineers within and outside the club. Freedom continues a tradition of excellence by gathering the wisdom, instruction, and experience of some of the world's best climbers into one indispensable volume. Read Less