Tales of the Trail from a Living Legend, The Slim Fox Sixteen-year-old
Allen Steck made his initial climb, a first ascent of Mount Maclure in
the Sierras, with no hardware, no ropes, no experience. But the event
turned his into a mountaineer's life. Over 70 years later, Steck, also
known as The Slim Fox, has had a prolific climbing career, including a
1954 expedition to Makalu, a 1963 first ascent of the south face of the
Clyde Minaret, and a 1965 first ascent of the Hummingbird Ridge on Mount
Logan. In 1967, with Steve Roper, he co-founded and edited Ascent
magazine. Two years later, his interest in the far reaches of the world
led him to partner in Mountain Travel, America's first true adventure
travel company. These are stories from the days when mountain climbing
was discovery, when men like Steck forged new routes, both literal or
literary. With dry humor and detailed recall, he captures the excitement
and intrigue of a time when there were few rules and no guidelines. As
he says, "We do not deceive ourselves that we are engaging in an
activity that is anything but debilitating, dangerous, euphoric,
kinesthetic, expensive, frivolously essential, economically useless and
totally without redeeming social significance. One should not probe for
deeper meanings." With amazing photographs, many published for the first
time, this memoir is a treasure, an inspiration, and an anchor to the
foundation of the life-changing sport of alpine climbing.
