Sixteen-year-old Allen Steck made his initial climb, with no hardware, no ropes, no experience. But the event turned his into a mountaineer’s life. These are stories of discovery, when men like Steck forged new routes, both literal or literary. He captures the excitement and intrigue of a time when there were few rules and no guidelines. This memoir is a treasure, an inspiration, and an anchor to the foundation of the life-changing sport of alpine climbing.