Edge of the Map

The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff

  • 240 pages
  • Mountaineers Books
  • 978-1-68051-288-5
  • Apr 1, 2020

Paperback / softback
$19.95
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Description
Edge of the Map is equal parts inspiring, dramatic, and heartbreaking. One of America’s greatest high altitude mountaineers, Christine Boskoff was at the top of her career when she and her partner died in an avalanche in 2006. Charismatic, principled, and humble, Boskoff was also a deeply loved role model to her climbing partners and the Sherpa community.

Edge of the Map traces the sharp twists and turns in Boskoff’s life, from her early years as a Lockheed engineer, through her first successes in the climbing world, to her purchase of Seattle-based Mountain Madness after owner and climber Scott Fischer died in the 1996 Everest disaster. Her life was one of constant achievement mixed with personal tragedy. The story follows Boskoff as she perseveres and moves on to even bigger peaks, earning acclaim as a world-class mountaineer, then later as she finds an alpine partnership with legendary Colorado climber Charlie Fowler.

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Details
  • 240 pages
  • Mountaineers Books
  • 978-1-68051-288-5
  • Apr 1, 2020
Reviews
  • Christine Boskoff was a rarity in her time—a woman leading otherwise all-male expeditions. This intensely researched biography chronicles her climbing career, relationships, and ultimate disappearance that gripped the world.
    — She Explores
  • Garton captures the experiences of a generation-defining woman climber who paved the way for increased equity in outdoor recreation.
    Ellie Sullum, 303 Magazine
  • An uplifting, riveting adventure story which is perfect for just this moment in time as an escape we all need and makes a perfect holiday gift.
    — Channel 2 News
  • Edge of the Map is inspiring, dramatic, and heartbreaking all in one.
    Jose Cedeno, King 5 Evening
  • Garton weaves a compelling narrative and paints vivid pictures of Boskoff's devotion to a life well lived. Edge of the Map is a noteworthy addition to the canon of mountaineering literature.
    — AdventuresNW
  • Definitely a page-turner
    — Adventure Sports Podcast
  • Garton excels at creating and maintaining interest and tension even when the reader knows the tragic ending. From the unlikely climber's childhood to the trek to bring Boskoff home, Garton captivates readers with an engaging narrative style that gives them a taste of the summit.
    Lauren O'Brien, Shelf Awareness
  • An intimate look at the friendships and adventures enjoyed by those in the close-knit mountaineering community…. Garton’s research (explained in a surprising afterword) is impressive and should broaden the book’s appeal far beyond those familiar with its subject.
    Colleen Mondor, Booklist
  • An absorbing, unputdownable book about an intrepid climber and pioneer in high-altitude mountaineering… A wonderful tribute to her [Boskoff’s] life and enduring legacy.
    Lucy Heckman, Library Journal
  • Powerful and moving, Edge of the Map is a story of human endurance taken to its limits, seen in Christine Boskoff’s egoless striving to master herself and the mountain. Ultimately, it’s a tale of great love given freely.
    Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews
  • The Next Must-Read
    — REI Uncommon Path
  • Gripping and powerfully written, Johanna Garton’s Edge of the Map is a fitting tribute to Christine and Charlie—and a time when American mountaineering loomed large on the world stage.
    Luis Benitez, former dir. of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
  • Christine Boskoff made her mark in mountaineering history with a long list of extraordinary accomplishments. Johanna Garton has written a well-researched and fascinating tribute that is both riveting and heartrending.
    Jenni Lowe-Anker, author of Forget Me Not
  • Equal parts climbing history, love story, and riveting mystery.
    Vanessa O'Brien, first American and British woman to summit K2
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