Bradford Washburn (1910–2007)

Bradford Washburn led a remarkable life. He is famous in Alaska for his exploration and mountaineering. He was the first to ascend over a dozen mountains - and discovering several along the way - while capturing remarkable photographs published in National Geographic and on display in several museums. He studied and collected data for geological survey work. Washburn also spent time as a cartographer, mapping the Mount McKinley, the Grand Canyon and Everest, among a large amount of other show more maps. However, his true pride was envisioning and building the Museum of Science in Boston.

The statement from Harvard, upon presenting Washburn with an honorary degree (which he seems to collect, he has so many!) does a wonderful job summarizing Washburn:

Traveler, explorer and map maker. He has moved mountains by changing a dusty Boston institution into a lively educational adventure for young and old.

Published only two years before his death (at the young age of 97), Bradford Washburn's autobiography brings his interesting story to life. Complete with a wonderful collection of photographs throughout his life and adventures (including a picture of him climbing a climbing-wall at the age of 88!), the reader is truly able to get a feel for the explorer and his long life.

Although some parts may seem a little slow, and certain passages seem to be irrelevant and jump around a bit, any reader - not just mountaineering buffs - should take part in the exploration and adventures of Bradford Washburn. show less

I have heard various tales about mountaineers in my lifetime, but was never really able to hear about it firsthand, from their own personal view. The pictures that the author included made his story all the more real, because the pictures were as tangible as the words. While reading this book, I could close my eyes and imagine myself in the great outdoors, learning all the tricks the mountains have to share. To know that the author is in his 90s is almost unbelievable, but reading his story show more shows the reader exactly how fascinating his life truly was. Though it took me a while to read this book, the only reason why is because I kept going back to look at the pictures (which really added to the story). If you are into learning about great adventurers, this book is definitely a must-read. show less

This book takes you from the first glance up to the top of the mountain and all the preparation in between. For someone like me who never wanted to climb a mountain whether it was THERE or not, it demonstrates the love, beauty and spendor from simply putting one foot in front of the other until you reach your goal. Full of loving memory and beauty of the view, Bradford Washburn shares a life of adventure and purpose. Quite a read!

I was excited to read about this mountain climber that I’d heard so much about. However, I can’t recommend his autobiography. It is not well-written. There are many interesting stories about his adventures, but I kept stumbling over the poorly worded passages. He gives way too many details in some instances and the reader feels like he/she is plowing through to get to the climax of the story. I also found the large serif typeface distracting as I was reading.