Book: The Altitude Experience

For more technical information about spending time in the mountains, pick up The Altitude Experience (Globe Pequot Press, $23) by high-altitude climber Mike Farris. A survivor of the 2008 K2 tragedy, Farris combines the science of the body's response to high altitude with the accumulated wisdom of experienced mountaineers. The result is an in-depth look at altitude's effects on our bodies, and a valuable guide on how to best prepare for it.