Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire

A Cautionary Review for a Cautionary Tale

As a student of White Mountain history, I opened NOT WITHOUT PERIL with expectations of learning more about some of the mishaps and deaths on or near Mount Washington. Up to a point, especially for some of the more recent incidents, that hope was partially fulfilled. However, I strongly feel that this volume is the product of sloppy writing, careless editing, or a combination of the two. There was hardly a chapter in which I did not discover errors of fact and/or textual mistakes which would, and should, have been caught by a capable proofreader. While Mr. Howe has an engaging style, and presents an impressive amount of historical detail, he does not cite so much as a single source, nor does he acknowledge the use of other works, both primary and secondary, even though it is quite clear he had to have done so. I am troubled that the Appalachian Mountain Club, with a reputation for quality and accuracy in its guidebooks and other materials, should have accepted and published this work at face value. In brief, it you are looking for entertainmnet, buy this book; if you want information, look elsewhere.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Remarkably enjoyable read despite the subject matter

Compelling, engaging, stimulating to the imagination as well as one's sense of sobriety. I enjoyed this book, it stoked my nostalgia & sentimentality despite the major theme of death.
The subject is deaths on Mount Washington & the Presidential's in New Hampshire & the cause is often tragic ignorance & all-too-human arrogance, or at least lack-of-humility & respect for the nature of the mountain's weather. A bit of research, proper preparation & attention to those who know & common sense in regards to the dichotomy of weather below & above the treeline might well have kept the death toll out of the triple digits.

great read

if you have read into the wild get ready for an easier read. read in three sittings this book is great. great stories and written the same way.

Drama and a history lesson

I have spent a lot of time hiking and tramping around the Presidential range. Since my first visit to the White Mountains, I've learned some of the history, and of course I learned all about safety and the sometimes dangerous weather on the Presidentials. But I was fascinated by the details of the circumstances of the tragedies that have occurred there. Even though everyone always feels that tragedies only happen to 'other people', after reading this book, you realize that just one subtle mistake or mis-read of the weather could lead to a string of other circumstances which could very well lead to your own tragedy. The history this book gives of life on the summit and how it has evolved over the years is equally amazing. I believe that most people will be very satisfied with the content of this book. I plan to use it as a reference whenever I return to the White Mountains. Joe Dodge was an inspiration to everyone that knew him, and by everyone who reads this book. Thanks to Mr. Howe, I now have a much greater appreciation for people like Joe Dodge and organizations like the AMC (for which I have been a member for 6 years). In conclusion, I would just like to say that I feel this book is worth every penny and I will re-read it more than once ..... thanks Mr. Howe for this excellent piece of writing.