Laura Waterman Knihy

Exploring the intricate bond between humanity and the natural world, this narrative delves into our changing perceptions of mountains and wilderness. It highlights the emotional and spiritual connections we forge with these landscapes, reflecting on their significance in our lives and the impact of modernity on our appreciation of nature. Through vivid storytelling, it invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the wild and the lessons it imparts.

First published in 1993 and hailed as a classic, Yankee Rock and Ice is reissued in a new edition with new chapters covering the 1990s through today. This comprehensive, entertaining history of roped rock and ice climbing in the Northeast traces the growth of this popular sport from the first trailblazers through today's events and personalities.

Exploring themes of wild places and mountain stewardship, this collection of poignant essays delves into the transformative power of nature and literature. The author shares personal reflections on building a new life after experiencing loss, connecting the threads of grief, resilience, and the healing aspects of the natural world. Each essay invites readers to consider the profound relationships between environment, reading, and personal growth.

Paul's letters are written using the abstract thought of the Greek language which has strongly influenced Western culture. The Hebrew of the Old Testament is written in story. The theology of the Hebrew Bible and of Jesus is every bit as profound as that of Paul, but it is communicated in a very different way. If we are to fully understand the riches of the Old Testament, we have to embrace the language of story. This book is an exploration of story. The first part is a series of 27 Bible studies from Genesis, Exodus and the gospels. The preface outlines the methodology, which approaches the source text in a way that ignores the influence of existing translations and interpretations. The result is that new light is thrown on the ancient texts, bringing to life a Jesus with emotion, compassion, love and anger, and respect for women. The readings from John's gospel show a writer who subtly points to a Jesus whose teaching was being obscured by the developing hierarchy and patriarchy of the early church. The second part is of a more-demanding nature. It struggles with the apparent conflict between Christian doctrine and the rationality of the present age, and the contradiction inherent in the doctrine of the dual nature of Jesus Christ as both God and man. It comes to the conclusion that these conflicts lose significance if we read the Bible as story. There are footnotes giving sources for those wishing to read further.

"In 2018, two couples set out on an expedition to Alaska's Hidden Mountains, one of the last wild ranges in North America. A rarity in modern climbing, the peaks were nearly unexplored and untouched, a place where few people had ever visited and granite spires still awaited first ascents. Inspired by generations of daring alpinists before them, the four friends were now compelled to strike out into uncharted territory themselves. This trip to the Hidden Mountains would be the culmination of years of climbing together, promising to test the foursome's skill and dedication to the sport. But as they would soon discover, no amount of preparation can account for the unknowns of true wilderness. As they neared the top of an unclimbed peak, rockfall grievously injured one of the team while he was out of sight, leaving him stranded and in critical condition. Over the course of the next nine hours, the other three climbers worked to reach their companion. What followed was a pulse-pounding rescue attempt by Alaska's elite pararescue jumpers in one of the most remote regions in the country--raising difficult questions about wilderness accessibility, technology's role in outdoor adventure, and what it means to weigh risk against the siren song of the mountains." -- inside front jacket flap.