MEN AGAINST THE CLOUDS

Burdsall, Richard and Emmons, Arthur. The Conquest of Minya Konka. With contributions by Terris Moore and Jack Theodore Young. Harper & Brothers, New York, 1935, First American Edition. Octavo, original grey cloth with gilt-lettered dark blue spine labels, publisher's device to front board, chipped, slightly faded but scarce Dustjacket, (Xiii), 292 pages, pictorial endpaper map by Emmons, 7 other maps, Frontispiece and 64 additional B&W photographs, appendices. Loosely inserted typed letter signed by Terris Moore, provenance card from Jack Newton. Quite Scarce, Very Good+ condition. In 1930 explorer Joseph Rock attempted a measurement and miscalculated its height as 30,250 ft (9,220 m). He cabled National Geographic Society announcing Minya Konka as highest mountain in the world. This measurement was viewed with suspicion, and the Society's decision to double-check Rock's calculations before publication was well-founded. A second, better-equipped American team returned in 1932, and did an accurate survey of the peak and its environs, recording summit altitude measurement of 7,590 meters. Two members of their 4-man team succeeded in climbing to the summit. It was considered a remarkable achievement at the time, considering mountain's height, remoteness, and small size of the group. In addition, Minya Konka remained the highest summit reached by Americans until 1958. Written by all four members, 'Men Against The Clouds' remains a mountaineering classic. VG+.