Polish three Books

CIENIU KANGzENDZENGI. By Marek Malatynski. Pp. 305, illustrated. 1978 (Iskry, Warszawa—in Polish)

NOSHAQ. By Bruno Helmle. Pp. 130, illustrated. 1979 (Alpine Hoch Schulgruppe, Konstanz—in German).

EXPEDITION NAVARRA AL HIMALAYA 79, DHAULAGIRI 8172 m. By G. A. Martinez. Pp. 104, illustrated. 1979 (In Forme, Pamplona—in Spanish).

While going through the Club library at Delhi, I was impressed by many handwritten or typed reports by various climbers. These travellers had faithfully recorded their adventures with sketches, photographs and route details. This was in the days when printing industry was in the infant stage. The above three books are perhaps the modern version of that early tradition. They record their particular adventure with text, pictures and organizational details.
The first book, in Polish, records the first ascents of South and Central Peaks of Kangchenjunga. This was a unique expedition which climbed two virgin eight-thousandars. This paperback has many pictures and covers the approach and the climb in great detail.

The second book similarly covers the climb of Noshaq North Wall. Again a paperback with sketches and black-and-white pictures, covering the Hindu Kush in general. The team had also climbed three other peaks for acclimatization.

The book on Dhaulagiri is almost a pictorial essay. Full of many large coloured pictures and printed on the best available paper. Rural life of Nepal as seen on the approach march is well covered. The climb is well illustrated with sketches.

It is a pity that the text is not in English, for they provide reference material essential to anyone intending to climb these mountains.

HARISH KAPADIA