Publisher Description

Vertical World details the lives and accomplishments of the most influential climbers of this generation, sharing through casual conversation an intimate portrait of each climber, revealing their personalities and drive with great frankness and intimacy. All athletes included are under thirty-five and have broken a major barrier or made a significant accomplishment within the sport - in all cases, something that will stand the test of time. The athletes represent all areas of climbing, from bouldering and sport climbing to mountaineering and big wall climbing.

Back Cover

Get psyched to get vertical! Each rock generation brings new vision and new focus to ultimate climbing challenges. In Vertical World, Katie Brown, herself one of the world's greatest climbers, introduces nine of America's best and brightest masters of rock climbing. Through engaging interviews and stunning action photographs taken by top climbing photographers, the most gifted climbers of this generation bring style, grace, skill, and strength to the hardest and most beautiful rock climbs on planet Earth. They talk about their successes and failures, their training secrets, their favorite crags, their climbing partners, their wildest dreams, and their craziest adventures. These are today's cutting-edge climbers touching the vertical dream and climbing without limits. Dave Graham - climbed more 5.14 routes than anyone else in the world Chris Sharma - the first climber in the world to send 5.15a Beth Rodden - the world's best all-around female rock climber Dean Potter - America's leading soloist, climbed Yosemite's Half Dome and El Capitan in a day Jason Kehl - America's premier high-ball bouldering ace Josh Wharton - climbed the world's longest route up Great Trango Tower in Pakistan Steph Davis - the second woman to free climb El Capitan in a day Lisa Rands - one of the world's best woman boulderers Tommy Caldwell - the world's best all-around male rock climber Vertical World(R) is a registered trademark of Vertical World, Inc., America's first climbing gym, Used by permission.

Author Biography

As the first woman to onsight 5.13d (Omaha Beach, Red River Gorge, Kentucky) and flash 5.14a (Hydrophobia, Mont Sant, Spain) Katie Brown has been an influential and groundbreaking climber. She began climbing at age 13 and quickly dominated competition at the national and international level. Now in her young 20s, she is a freelance writer and continues to travel the world as a professional climber.

Table of Contents

The following is a list of climbers profiled within Vertical World. Foreword by Pete Takeda, Senior Contributing Editor to Rock & Ice Beth Rodden, 25, from Davis, CA: First American woman to establish a 5.14b (The Optimist, Smith Rock, OR). Chris Sharma, 24, from Santa Cruz, CA: first person to climb 5.15a (Realization, Ceuse France). Dave Graham, 24, Portland, Maine: has climbed more 5.14s than anyone else in the world, with 100+ routes under his belt. Dean Potter, 32, Yosemite, CA: first person to free climb both El Cap and Half Dome in a day. Dean also free-soloed the Supercanaleta on Fitz Roy in 6.5 hours and soloed the Compressor route on Cerro Torre in 11 hours. Jason Kehl, 27, from Maryland: unrepeated ascent of Evilution (V11) which stands 55 ft. tall, first ascent of After Midnight (V10/11, 25 ft. high) and The Fly (V13, 25 ft. high). Josh Wharton, 27, Rifle, CO: Bold ascent of The Flame in northeastern Pakistan under great odds and first ascent of the world's longest route called The Great Trango Tower in Pakistan. Lisa Rands, 28, from Bishop, CA: first American woman to climb V11 (Plain High Drifter, Buttermilks, CA). First woman to lead E8 6C (The End of the Affair, Curbar Edge, England).Steph Davis, 31, Moab, UT: Second woman, behind Lynn Hill to free climb a route on El Cap in a day (The Freerider, 5.12d/13a). Steph was also the first woman to have climbed all seven of the major peaks in Patagonia¿s Fitz Roy Range.Tommy Caldwell, 26, from Estes Park, CO: established the world's most difficult big wall free climb (The Dihedral Wall, 5.14a, El Cap, Yosemite, CA). Katie Brown, 24, from Boulder, CO: First woman to onsight both 5.13d and 5.14a (Omaha Beach, Red River Gorge, KY and Hydrophobia, Mont Sant, Spain).

Long Description

Vertical World details the lives and accomplishments of the most influential climbers of this generation, sharing through casual conversation an intimate portrait of each climber, revealing their personalities and drive with great frankness and intimacy. All athletes included are under thirty-five and have broken a major barrier or made a significant accomplishment within the sport - in all cases, something that will stand the test of time. The athletes represent all areas of climbing, from bouldering and sport climbing to mountaineering and big wall climbing.

Excerpt from Book

[from the foreword: "In the following chapters, Katie Brown interviews nine climbers who have made significant contributions to the sport. "These contributions will stand the test of time," she says. Her intent -- besides inaugurating a career as an author -- is to portray the leading activists of the new generation. She's chosen three women and six men who represent America's current cutting edge of bouldering, sport, trad, big wall free, and alpine rock climbing."][from intro to Chris Sharma: "Chris had fallen off the crux of the Biographie Extension over 30 times, each time taking enormous falls. His tenacity on the route, however, not only proved his talent, but also proved he had the ability to stick with it when success did not come as easily as he was accustomed to. Chris named the extension, Realization, saying that "in French, to realize a route means to send it. Plus, it was very difficult for me mentally, emotionally and physically, so in order to be ultimately successful, I had to "realize" a lot of things about myself during the process." The climb was given the rating of 5.15a, a level that was previously thought to quite possibly be unreachable."]

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