Mountain Climber

Nearing his sixth decade as a dedicated climber, William “Bill” Katra describes himself as “not a great climber, but a persistent one.” In his memoir, the author details his climbs in vivid detail, describing some of the world’s most popular routes while emphasizing that scenic beauty is as important to a hike as technical difficulty. From his early partner-belayed adventures to his more recent unassisted solo “scamper-climbs,” Bill’s techniques have evolved, but his love for the experience remains steadfast. Within recent years, Bill has again summited a few climbs from his younger days, often reflecting on where senior climbers fit in the sport’s changing social—and environmental—landscape. This memoir is a relatable and nostalgic account of a life well-spent in nature, as the author muses on his long-past adventures enriched and nurtured by the wisdom of the present.

Bill Katra has written several books about Latin America. He divides his time between La Crosse, Wisconsin, and San José de Mayo, Uruguay.

Bill Katra

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 258
Bibliographic Info: 41 photos (24 in color), glossary, notes, index
Copyright Date: 2020
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7963-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3778-5
Imprint: Toplight Books

Introduction 1

1. Climbing Snippets 7
2. Aconcagua 64
3. North to Alaska 82
4. Camping Sauvage in the French Alps 103
5. Canadian Rockies Redux 122
6. Huascarán 132
7. Crossing the Line in the Tetons 150
Between pages 164 and 165 are 16 color plates containing 24 photographs
8. Glacier National Park 165
9. Momo’s Wonderful (Almost Nightmarish) Day on Orizaba 171
10. Ask Permission to Climb in Uruguay 180
11. Patagonia 185
12. Mountain Climbing Junket, 2012 192
13. A Plucky Old Climbing Warrior Revisits Tahquitz Rock 197
14. Trying to Climb in Argentina 206
15. “A Gory Way to Die”: Song Lyrics Modified by Bill Katra 210
16. “Climbing Majesty”: Song Lyrics by Bill Katra 213

Glossary 217
Chapter Notes 223
Bibliography 229
Index 231

• “A nostalgic reprise of climbs executed from student days onward. …The writing is remarkably vivid, offering insight into Katra’s state of mind…fresh-picked observations of alpine surroundings and climbing conditions. Candid character assessments of climbing partners and of self are scattered throughout, contributing to readers’ sense of having gained entrée to a literary diarist’s notebook…highly recommended”—Choice

• “Mountain Climber is a memoir that presents the reader with a relatable and nostalgic account of a life well-spent in nature, as Bill Katra muses on his long-past adventures enriched and nurtured by the wisdom of the present. …An inherently fascinating and absorbing read from beginning to end…an extraordinary account of an extraordinary life…recommended”—Midwest Book Review

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