'We discovered an easy pass to the head of the Ameghino Glacier, and
climbed to the summit of a rock peak above it, where for three hours we
sat in the warm sun gazing at a magnificent panorama of nameless
mountains.'
Land of Tempest reveals Shipton at his best - writing with
enthusiasm and humour about his explorations in Patagonia in the 1950s
and 1960s. He is an astute observer of nature and the human spirit, and
this account of his travels is infused with with his own zest for
discovery and the joy of camaraderie. Undaunted by hardship or by
injury, Shipton and his team attempt to cross one of the great ice caps
in Patagonia. It's impossible not to marvel at his determination,
resilience and appetite for travel and adventure, be it climbing
snow-clad mountains, or walking in forested foothills. Shipton takes a
reader with him on his travels, and the often-inhospitable places he
visits are a stark contrast to the warmth of the people he encounters.
Land of Tempest is essential reading for anyone who loves nature,
mountains, climbing, adventure or simply the joy of discovering unknown
places.