Alpine Reviews

What a refreshing, beautiful book. The essays within are full of powerful and rich personality, which serves to give a full sensory perception of the places of which they write. There is an abandon and adventurous spirit that blows through the pages and inspires the reader not just to travel, but to really experience the places one goes, even close to home.

This book was perfectly conceived and executed. These 24 smart stories by 12 smart women cover the whole tonal range -- funny, poignant, gut-wrenching, beautiful, thoughtful, irreverant, wonderfully sappy... And the publishing concept itself was brilliant, a clever way to crack a difficult market: strength in numbers, taking power into their own hands...in retrospect it seems so obvious, but I'm sure that two years ago these women had little idea how brilliant they were being... I'm 50 years old now, and anyone who has reached my stage of geezerhood knows the value of having even one good solid friend. I attended a salon event these women put on in San Francisco recently, and I mentioned to one of them just how great I thought it would be to have twelve friends as tight as they seem to be. Her response: "Well, now you do!" And that is the feeling that one comes away with after reading their book: Twelve new friends.

"Stories Of World Travel" by the Wild Writing Women is the best and most entertaining travel book that I have read. Each chapter is a stand-alone story of an exotic adventure written by experienced authors and travelers. The "Spirits of Scotland" story by Cathleen Miller had a most surprising twist on a honeymoon adventure. I recommend the book highly.

The illustrations and the techniques in this book are very easy to follow. I personally like the sections on steep skiing and moguls.

This book may be the second best to private instructions. However, I would say that the book may be more beneficial to an intermediate to advanced skier who would like to improve one's skills.

This book is at the top of the list for the thoughful learner. The text and the excellent illustrations explain a variety of techniques that skiers must have to freeski with confidence. Skiing well in all conditions, all over the mountain, involves applying the appropriate technique to the situation. For the advancing skier, it is frequently a matter of recognizing the variety of situations the mountain presents and trying the techniques. That's what this book is about. I bought this book a few years ago. I lost it and have missed it ever since. I'm buying it again and giving a copy to a friend.

This book is great. A beginner or even an intermediate may find much of the information to be too advanced to be useful. Advanced skiers should find it to be an excellent resource.

The book, among other things emphasizes the importance of steering, espescially in the important transition phase between turns. (Intermediate and even advanced skiers who learn how to edge effectively, often abandon their steering skills and simply step from the outside edge of one ski to the outside edge of the other ski.) The mechanics of effective steering are explained well as is the importance of the skill in more difficult terrain.

Fundamentals are emphasized. The modifications and different blends of skills which are required on moguls, powder, crud, steeps, ice and in the trees are also explained very well.

After taking the on-line lessons at Harb's website and then buying the Instructor's Manual he publishes, I finally got some simple, clear, biomechanically sound instruction on ski technique that I've been able to apply to all conditions. He's cleared up all the conflicting and unworkable lessons I got from PSIA instrucotrs.

Harb's Expert Skier II expands the PMTS technique into a series of simple, clear exercises you can use to do "expert" moves such as various weighted releases, two-footed releases and projecting, using the "force," your center of mass into the next turn for effortless and seemless transitions just like the big boys and girls do on the World Cup circuit. You can use the same sound PMTS technique on the race course, groomed runs, steeps, powder, broken powder, moguls and really loose spring corn.

Harb explains all this with clarity, superb illustrations and troubleshooting you can apply by yourself on the hill. Buy the video, if you can, that accompanies the volume. All I can say is that Harb has turned me into an all-mountain skier after just two days of practice. Now I don't worry about the terrain I face. I just enjoy it! Did I mention that I can now ski all day without exhausting myself, too?!? If you love skiing, buy and study this book.

After being trained by self prescribed professionals of PSIA and being one myself for 25 years I have now found what was wrong with our methodology and technique. Reading this book and skiing with Mr. Harb and Ms. Rogers has re-ignited my love for skiing. The methodology is sound, the results are overwhelming and skiing is more fun than ever. For anyone that is a skier or wants to become one, this is the way to sure success and fun.
The book is easy to read, laid out well and from personal experience on the snow absolutely effective.
Not applying this technique to your skiing or teaching would be a tragic loss of what skiing is all about.
"Ski the Edge, Not the Wedge"

This follow-up to the enormously popular "Anyone can be an Expert Skier 1", expands on the "Harb" Direct Parallel instruction techniques by adding much needed insight and information on skiing in a wide variety of mountain conditions--powder, crud, steeps, bumps--while mastering the art of carving.

"Anyone can be an Expert Skier 2" is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format. Colour photographs provide excellent illustrations of the skiing techniques described in the text. Carefully created photomontages provide the reader with step-by-step visuals that readily convey the teaching points of the "Harb" Direct Parallel method.

The "Harb" Direct Parallel method of instruction is a radical departure from traditional ski instruction technique. I found that the moves and exercises he used in the books were easy to learn and emulate on the ski slopes. The speed of my improvements were mind blowing and the great thing about Harald's technique is that you can take it to any hill in any county and in any conditions.

Clear and concise, effective and accessible, Anyone can be an Expert Skier 2--Powder, Bumps and Carving is appropriate for advancing level skiers.

Buy this book, that guy owes a lot of people serious money

...and just when I thought I was becoming a good skier, I read Andrew's book and realized the depth of technical skill he posses. The Chuting Gallery is an excellant tool to be used by accomplished ski mountaineers to test the grade of their steel. As a guide book, for me, it tells me where not to go.....

Even after skiing most of the North Face of Superior on my face, I'm still glad to have read this excellent guide. Filled with enough references to inspire caution in even the most hardcore skiers, this is the ultimate conversation piece, even if you never make it off the groomers at Alta.

Having read four earlier books by Maddy Hunter, I was excited to read her new novel in a different genre - a murder mystery. But, it's not your typical murder mystery - it combines lots of humor with the excitement and frustrations of travel to new places and the subtle mysteries and intrigues of three murders - all within the same group of travelling Iowa seniors. Emily is touring Switzerland, accompanying Nana, her grandmother. Nana is the reason Emily is on the seniors' tour, in the first place. Emily is unexpectedly thrust into the role of tour guide for the group - thrust into the position by the sudden demise of the group's original leader. Andy was murdered. As the tour travels from place to place, stays in five star hotels where accommodation snafus and misplaced baggage create their own horrors, and where seemingly endless other minor mishaps occur, more tour members turn up dead. Almost every situation, it seems, has a humorous bent, and I had many laughs from beginning to end. In the end, another tour member is discovered to be - - the murderer. As much as I tried to figure it out, I didn't know "whodunit", or why, until the very end. And then, I had to be told. Bound up by some of the humor, at one point I was "crossing my fingers" in the hope that it was Nana - but then, I knew that couldn't be - who would be Emily's companion in her further travels?

Maddy Hunter does a wonderful job weaving a tale of totally believable Iowa seniors into the fabric of the Swiss culture.

I was so taken with Maddy Hunter's venture into "murder with a smile" that I eagerly await her next tale, "Top O' the Mournin'". After that, I hope there are many more. Perhaps Emily will also travel to Italy. I can't wait to see who her "Italian Stallion" will be. There will be one.

I was delighted with "Alpine......." - so much so that I sent copies to five friends. And I am hearing only praise. I laughed so much of the time - seeing humor in so many of my own similar travel experiences. But, never for me, murder. Once begun, it is hard to put "Alpine" down.

I love travel, mystery and humor. This book has it all and a bit of romance as well! There is no way I can do justice to this book in a short review but I'll try.

I laughed out loud so many times reading this book. I have read it again I enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend this book to those of you who enjoy light cozy mysteries and travel and humor.

A short summary is that the main character ends up on a seniors tour and while exploring Europe some unfortunate incidents happen to her tour members and she ends up getting involved in solving the crimes. During this she meets an Italian detective with whom she shares a mutual attraction. Lost luggage adds more humor to her situation (and frustration naturally).

Highly recommended!!! Can't wait until her new one this fall.Travel the world with Maddy Hunter - you'll love it.

This book is fantastic. I never wanted the story to end. If you like humor with your mysteries, then this is the book for you. If you also like travel, then it just doesn't get any better. I can't wait to jump into the next book. Keep them coming!

What can I say that the book doesn't already say. A great book for beginning to intermediate skiers. Including several sections covering your equipment and proper fitting techniques.

This book was written in 1993 (it is now almost 2000) and you may be tempted to think that this book is outdated. You couldn't be more wrong! Everything in this book is as relevant, if not more so, that when it was written.

The section on canting and alignment is amazing. On first reading I was sceptical. However, I have recently been correctly canted and aligned and am amazed at the difference. As an instructor and racer, I work a lot on my skiing technique. Being correctly aligned has shown the biggest single improvement in my skiing for years.

The techniques discussed in this book are also very very good. Most of them are now more relevant than when the book was written as they allow you to get the most out of the new generation of carving skis.

Buy this book, read it, read it again, be aligned and then ski better than ever.

If you buy only one book on skiing, this should be it. It is a joy to read, and re-read. Keep it on the coffee table at your ski condo and read any random chapter. You'll learn something.

Warren is the father of carving long before it became a fad. It is "how the racers ski" (which is also the name of his first book from the early 70's that is a classic).

The content if outstanding and the writing and presentation is equally as nice. Glossy pages, excellent photography.

I've given this book to more hard core skiers than I'd like to say.

The section on balance and alignment alone are worth the money. Buy it!

Last fall in one of the many ski publications that come to my home, there was mention of a new book by Harald Harb. Having been in instructor clinics with Harald in the past, and being impressed by his technical mastery and outstanding skiing skills, a former PSIA National Demo team member, it made me want to read his book. What struck me most about the book, Anyone can be an Expert Skier was its utter simplicity. It was devoid of all sorts of extraneous things and reached the essence of excellence.

Harb's Primary Movements Teaching System is bio-mechanically sound and thus "far more user friendly." You are using the body in a manner to take advantage of its strengths.

For people who are "intermediate skiers" it was possible to get them out of their stem christies and make parallel turns, usually in one PMTS lesson. If not, they are at least able to see how to get to parallel using exercises from the PMTS.

So, in conclusion, the door to enjoyable, exhilarating, addictive skiing is open. Take these comments, and read what Harald has to say

An excellent book which explained the secrets of skiing in such a precise and logical fashion. The photo sequences were also helpful in seeing whether you were on the right track. I found that the moves and excercises he used in the books were easy to learn and emulate on the ski slopes. The speed of my improvements were mind blowing and the great thing about Harold's technique is that, you can take it anywhere ie. steeps, crud, bumps. This is where other systems seem to show there flaws! The Biomechanical explanations as it relates to ski movements were also a very good addition. The alignment section, showed me that I have been on the wrong path for years and helped me choose the right equipment for my anatomy and skiing ability. You will find that because his methodolgy is so simple, you will be able to analyse and correct your movements on the slope. I hope he writes a second book on skiing steeps, crud, bumps etc... you know the tough stuff.

I skidded and braked down ski slopes for years, even tried snowboarding. Harald's message is: the skis turn you; you don't turn the skis.

Carving is such and elegant and controlled way to get down the slope. Check out Harald's ski clinics

Most ski writers are middle-aged-plus travel hacks more interested in the hotel than the hill. Not Finkel. Almost uniquely among widely-published ski journalists, he's more interested in descents than dinner, and it's fun to travel vicariously through his work.

Alpine Circus is essentially a compendium of columns originally published in SKIING magazine. All are interesting. Most are funny. One -- the piece on Sarajevo -- is intensely moving.

Four stars out of five. While very enjoyable, the book doesn't fully display Finkel's remarkable talent as a writer. Hopefully, future collections will. You'll see a lot more of his work... he's still a mere sprat.

If you have a passion for skiing and traveling, this is the book for you! It's an easy read - several short stories about the author's ski adventures in the U.S. and abroad. A very enjoyable book that's hard to put down...you just want to keep reading on to his next adventure.

A great collection of unforgettable skiing stories that takes you around the globe to some of the most remote areas of the world. After reading every authors stop, you feel as if you've been there also. Easy to read, funny, and worth reading again and again...

I finally got sick of taking this book out of the library every ski season and decided to buy it rather than steal the library's copy. But I did consider that. After having been an intermediate skier for 20 years (taking a 10 year hiatus), reading Lito's book and applying the principles had me comfortably skiing black diamonds within an afternoon. It is the most remarkable book for intermediates but it is not for beginners. Beginning skiers will not understand the application of the terminolgy. They are best served by lessons. But for intermediates who desire "the secret" Lito discloses it clearly, concisely and correctly. In a step by step process, Lito brings you the "Zen" of skiing, the philosophy that translates into perfect parallel's. Lito is to skiing as Colin Fletcher is to walking.

It's happened to just about any skiier. You get over the initial fear of falling, and learn how to get from the top of the hill down to the bottom. You move from the greens to the blues, and get a sense of what skiing is generally about. But you're not *great*.

This plateau is hit by skiiers of all ages and backgrounds. They know the mechanics of skiing, and they know what to do. But they marvel at those people zooming down the slopes effortlessly, as if they were dancing on the snow.

The solution is this book. I didn't even buy it on my own originally - it was given to me by a skiier friend who had read it and loved it. The book made a circuit through our skiing group and soon we all had copies of it. We then lent those out to friends, so they could learn too! This wasn't the basics - how to snowplow, how to stop. And it wasn't complicated either. It was full of great, practical, easy to understand *tips* that you could immediately apply to your own skiing.

Highly recommended!

This is not just the best book on skiing available, it's the best way to learn, period. I never thought I could learn a sport from reading a book, but I skied for twenty years and never got any better. Then I read this book and in one week I was three times the skier. It was like a new sport. Since then I have encouraged a half-dozen friends to read it, all with the same results. My friend Al neglected to actually read the book for years. Then one time we went skiing together and he was suddenly doing everything right, looking like a new, confident, expert skier. I was amazed, and I remarked "your skiing is SO much better!" He replied "I read the book!"

About a decade ago, before I started an academic career, my wife and I reviewed travel guidebooks. We published several books on the subject, the last one covering about 3,000 books. I mention this only to underline the fact that I have looked closely at a lot of guide books, including myriad hiking guides. With that in mind, let me underline my overall opinion: Alpine Trailblazer is as good as they come.

The amount of thought and hard work embedded in this book is amazing. Alpine Trailblazer is more than just a description of hiking trails. It is much more versatile. If you are interested in outdoor activities (be they hiking, packing, biking, skiing, fishing or whatever), if you want to explore the Sierra Nevada mountains from Tahoe to Yosemite, but especially that less-discovered gold mine of a county called Alpine, Jerry and Janine Sprout will provide you with more well-informed, good ideas than any other single resource.

The Sprouts are long-time residents of Alpine County and have enthusiastically explored its trails and hidden pleasures for more than two decades. That they are willing to share their discoveries with you must have come after considerable soul searching. But we are all the beneficiaries.

And such attention to detail! From what should be an award-winning cover to the careful organization of materials, from the informative and beautiful black-and-white photographs to the practical hiking advice and Happy Jack's Campside Cookbook, this book has it all. Each suggested route is tied to the appropriate topo map and succinctly but informatively described. The types of outdoor pleasures most applicable to each route are clearly noted. The many choices are indexed in great detail. For example, routes that are best for wildflowers are then broken down into three subsections: early season, lower elevation; mid-summer, mid-elevation; and high elevation. Day hikes are organized under headings such as falls and cascades, old growth conifer quests, snow-free in late spring, short hikes with small kids and grandparents. And so on in incredible and useful detail. If you can't find what you want here, it doesn't exist.

The hiking tips are short and to the point, capturing the wisdom of years of trail experience. The only advice I take exception to is the choice of external over internal frames for backpacks (though, of course, they are entitled to their opinion). While external frames have certain advantages, as the Sprouts detail, the internal frame provides my back with a comfort I only dreamed of with an external frame--and that, at least for me, is priority number one. Then again, perhaps the Sprouts are made of stronger stuff. Let your own back be the judge.

In any case, I can't yell it loud enough (especially in print): grab a copy of this book without delay and visit the Alps of the Sierra Nevada. You won't be disappointed.

This is a wonderful guide to a part of the Sierra that attracts far less attention than Tahoe (to the north) or Yosemite (to the south), but has its own unique charms. By focusing on a relatively small area, the authors are able to achieve considerable breadth (covering the whole spectrum of outdoor recreation) without sacrificing depth (e.g., their hiking recommendations go well beyond the usual suspects). As others have noted, it is beautifully designed and very well organized. Anyone who wants a comprehensive Sierra Nevada library should buy this book.

This book turned out to be a handy guide to one of the quietest corners of California where the fishing can't be beat. I took it with me when fishing season opened and the snow was just melting off the highest peaks. The book distilled out the lower elevation hikes which made choosing trailheads and streams very easy. I car camped near the ghost town of Bodie and followed their day hike suggestions around the base of Tioga Pass and Mono Lake. This is a one-of-a-kind book that's alot of fun to read with amusing insights and historical lore.