Karakoram: Climbing Through the Kashmir Conflict

Steve Swenson is one of great mountaineers of his generation, and his book is a joy to read. No climber knows the Karakoram better than does Swenson, and no one has told personal stories of adventures in this region more eloquently or accurately than Steve does here. If you are going to the Karakoram, or if you just dream of going there, read this book. It is a wonderful account both of the area's history, and of the people who have felt compelled to probe its ultimate extremes.Thank you, Steve, for sharing these tales and this history. This is a book that will help others comprehend why people venture into the rugged and forbidding high regions of the Karakoram. Reading it brought back many memories.

Swenson's book is a great account of his life spent alpine climbing. His stories made me laugh and reminisce. His great memory and copious note taking on expeditions has served him well in crafting a wonderfully entertaining and accurate portrait of his accomplishments. The book, like Steve, understates his own drive, skill and general bad-assed nature that his climbing partners witness every trip. The book is mostly about climbing big mountains and friendship, but Steve also weaves a political and historical narrative about Pakistan and India giving his expeditions context in a pre and post 9/11 world.His stories are true. His words are thoughtful. His book is worthy. Read it.

I just finished reading this book. Steve writes well and the book is very interesting. But as someone who has never climbed mountains the technical information was lost to me. His stories of his travels and climbing in these vast ranges of high mountains is amazing to read. The sacrifices, obstacles created by the governments in these countries, hardships, health problems, dangers from climbing and from terrorism, and the wonderful people he encountered upon his travels make the book a good read.

This was an awesome read! If you are a climbing book buff you will really enjoy it. The author gives you great insight into the people of the Karakoram and Pakistan. He talks of several well known climbers. Its a book of who's who in the climbing world. If you are new to climbing history, its a great book to start with. Im so proud to have it, read it and added it to my collection!

As a friend of Steve Swenson since the 1980’s, I highly recommend this riveting account of his remarkable climbing adventures in the Karakoram, the greatest mountain range in the world. Steve is one of the great climbers of his generation, but what separates him from others in the genre is the sensitive way he writes about the local inhabitants and their cultures, and illuminates the political landscape in this complex and war-torn region. If you are planning a trip to the Karakoram, this is a must read!

Karakoram is an encyclopedic retrospective of a prolific career in the mountains and a fascinating chronicle of the geopolitical evolution of the Kashmir region. Swenson details through riveting reflection of his pearled string of expeditions to the region. This book is an inspiring and exciting read from beginning to end!

Excellent read, for climbers and non-climbers alike. Through remarkably descriptive detail, Swenson's writing brings the reader along on decades of high adventure in one of the worlds most rugged and wild landscapes. The factual content of the epic stories is itself worthy of an important piece of mountaineering literature, but it was Swenson's surprisingly gentle side -- his the personal connections to the people and places that stuck with me. Highly recommended.

A thorough story telling about the perilousness of climbing the world's greatest peaks and the equally perilousness of leaving in a land filled with specter of war. A story of triumph and tragedy it keeps the reader ready for the ongoing adventure.