” What transformed pure physical delight into something deeper was the fact that no-one had been here before...” Discover the fascinating stories of the men & women who have scaled the world`s highest peaks. Featuring accounts of some of the world`s most treacherous mountain climbs, this amazing collection covers the ascent of Mont Blanc in the 1780s, the golden age of alpine climbing which saw the Matterhorn & the Bietschhorn conquered, as well as the climbing of the great summits of the Americas & the Himalayan peaks, Everest & Annapurna. First Ascent is a unique survey of human achievement & a tribute to the adventurous spirit of mountaineers past & present.