Future alpinists read old journals and guidebooks, hoping to experience what the alpine "pioneers" did. For most, the Rockies require a certain edge that comes with age, humiliation and failure. Perhaps the ones who drink the most whisky, dream of the biggest peaks and sleep with snowballs in their hands are the ones rewarded with the momentary triumph of coming to a draw with one of these mountains.
This is not a guidebook. Rather, it is a narrative history by the people who risked life and limb to establish these long, difficult and sometimes scary climbs.
Brandon Pullan graduated from Ontario’s Lakehead University and moved to Canmore, Alberta, shortly after finishing his studies. He started writing for publications in the late ’90s and is now editor-in-chief of Gripped, Canada’s climbing magazine. He has over 100 published articles in print, and countless contributions can also be found online. His alpine pursuits have introduced him to dozens of legendary climbers and mentors, motivating him to compile and archive collections of stories from this older generation of mountaineering greats.