Who were the first people to reach the summits of the world's highest mountains? What materials did they use? Where are the tallest mountains located? When did sport climbing emerge? What is bouldering? From the rugged beauty of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park to the remote landscapes of Patagonia's Fitz Roy, the towering peaks of Everest in the Himalayas to Europe's iconic Mont Blanc, this large-format illustrated work explores the evolution, beauty, and history climbing. Brimming with incredible feats, stories of overcoming obstacles, and a wealth of information, The Big Book of Climbing includes information on how to ascend a peak in different seasons and with various types of climbs and covers important milestones and fundamental figures in the history of mountaineering.