CLIMBING & MOUNTAINEERING

Don Graydon (editor, with others). Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. The Mountaineers, October, 1997. Sixth edition (a seventh is due in September, 2003). 528 pp., illustrated.
This is the one indispensable book on climbing, covering all aspects of the sport. There is a great deal of information here of use beyond roped ascents, much of applicability to anyone spending time in the mountains. Ice axe technique, self-arrest (to be extensively practiced before need presents itself!), holds for climbing steep rock: though he does not do "technical" climbing the editor has learned much from this book. For anyone who isn't a climber, one of the older editions will suffice--I use the fourth. Currently look here for the listing at Amazon.com.