Pikes Peak gets hikers about as high as they can get in the continental United States — 4,302m, all on a good trail. And if you get to the top and don’t feel like walking back down, you can hop on the cog railway or hitch a ride in a car from one of the tourists who have driven up the road on the mountain’s north side. From the trailhead, the 21km hiking route gains 2,250m, a strenuous day of hiking that gives aspiring mountaineers a taste of what it takes to climb big mountains.
$18.99
How to Make a Mountain
In Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years!
Amy Huntington ; Nancy Lemon
Geology and earth science made easy (to learn) and super quick (to read about). You, too, can make a mountain—just grab this nonfiction picture book and start today! DO IT YOURSELF!START TODAY! From shaping peaks and crafting.
Full Description
“Using a friendly but informative second-person voice, the humorous narrator treats readers as full participants in the geologic process, complete with explanations as needed. . . . Lemon’s sketch-like illustrations match the engaging tone. . . . [How to Make a Mountain is e]arth science charmingly disguised as a how-to manual.”
—Booklist
DESCRIPTION
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AUTHOR BIO
REVIEWS
Geology and earth science made easy (to learn) and super quick (to read about). You, too, can make a mountain—just grab this nonfiction picture book and start today!
DO IT YOURSELF!
START TODAY!
From shaping peaks and crafting a glacier to nurturing your own plants and animals, these nine simple steps cover everything you need to know to make your very own mountain. In this book, you’ll learn how to
- Crush a piece of continent into a mountain range;
- Freeze and melt glaciers;
- Carve ravines, valleys, rivers, and mountain lakes;
- Foster plants and develop a fertile layer of soil; and
- Fill your mountain with a wide variety of animals that will work together to keep your mountain ecosystems healthy
YES―YOU, TOO, CAN MAKE A MOUNTAIN!
It is a big job, but it’s also a thrilling adventure! Pack your snacks, load up your gear, and get ready for the challenge of a lifetime!
*Tectonic plates, tools, and wildlife not included. Some restrictions apply. The authors assume no responsibility for frostbite, landslides, or accidental volcanoes.
SCIENCE WITH A PLAYFUL, DIY TWIST: This fun and funny nonfiction picture book humorously encourages readers to get busy making their own mountain ranges. By the end, they will have learned the many steps that ultimately turn a rock into a peak, a slope into a gorge, snow into a glacier, and much more!
GREAT FOR BUDDING ENVIRONTMENTALISTS: Once readers have “built” their mountains, their jobs aren’t over—because the environment needs caretakers and stewards, of course! With rich back matter and lush illustrations accompanying an engaging text, this picture book is perfect for instilling a love of the natural world in budding scientists, environmental activists, and nature enthusiasts.
STRONG CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Earth science is a staple classroom subject in all elementary school grades. With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators.
- Teachers and librarians
- Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
- Anyone who loves or collects rocks
- Lovers of fun, unique approaches to nonfiction and STEM topics
- Gift-givers looking for a one-of-a-kind gift that’s both funny and educational
Climb a mountain, take your potential to new heights
This 11 December is International Mountain Day. Almost one billion people live in mountain areas, and over half of our population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy.
Yet mountains are under threat from climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural disasters. These have potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences, both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.
We spoke with Crista Valentino, Co-Founder and Director of CoalitionWILD. The coalition, made up of members under 35 years-old, is a global initiative connecting and equipping young people to transform the planet through youth-driven solutions. As an avid mountain climber, we asked Valentino why mountain climbing is critical to her work in supporting young entrepreneurs to tap their full potential and shape an exciting future for our world.
Do you see evidence of mountains under pressure? Why are they important?
I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks known for their beauty, wildlife, scenery, and challenging mountain terrain. I see more people climbing mountains every time I go but as our population grows, so does our responsibility to protect the places we love the most. We must strike a balance: to inhabit mountain spaces, appreciate the beautiful vistas they afford and the challenges they pose while protecting and managing them for others to enjoy firsthand.
What does climbing a mountain teach you and why do you do it?
I didn’t always love adventuring in the mountains quite the opposite. The prospect was completely foreign to me. But since I stepped foot on my first trail nine years ago, I haven’t looked back. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the flurry of everyday life, always moving onto the next task on the to-do list. For me, being in the mountains calms my mind and brings clarity. As my gasps for oxygen become greater, the chaos in my head becomes quieter. As my focus turns towards taking one more step forward, it turns away from the clatter in my brain. Being in the mountains is like a moving meditation. Climbing allows me to shatter the perspective of what I can achieve, how far I can go and what I can endure. It has also given me a new definition of friendship and trust, knowing that the partners I choose to be with have my life in their hands, and theirs in mine.
What elements of mountain climbing help you in your everyday work?
The bigger the objective I have set myself, the smaller the steps I must take to reach my goal. The harder the experience becomes, the closer my checkpoints are to each other. In my everyday work, this perspective helps me to keep moving forward by making progress one step at a time. Crossing off tasks on a to-do list allows me to feel a sense of accomplishment that carries over into the next task and keeps me motivated, while keeping sight of the larger vision and making it seem attainable.
Working with entrepreneurs, what lessons have you learned from mountain climbing that could be applied in business?
One of my favorite lessons is that if the idea doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough. I have realized that the only thing that is holding me back, whether from a mountain pursuit or a work project, is myself. Being in the mountains shows me that I can achieve, endure, and experience more than I ever might have considered possible. Say yes to opportunities that are outside your comfort zone, set goals that feel slightly unattainable, and envision the impact you want to achieve from the start. It’s amazing what we can accomplish if we give ourselves the chance.
What advice would you give towards that first step up a mountain?
The hardest thing to do is start. In rock climbing we joke that the most difficult move is getting off the ground. Find people who are better than you and be an avid learner. My partners endure a never-ending list of ‘why’ questions from me constantly. Having adventure companions whom you trust and can learn from will keep you motivated and grow your competence and confidence. The same applies in business too.
CoalitionWILD supports the Young Champions of the Earth prize winners. Want a chance to win support to achieve your big environmental idea? Stay tuned—applications open in January.
Mount Hood, United States, 3,426m
The Pacific Northwest of the United States is a great training ground for the big mountains of the world, with large glaciated volcanic peaks that require all the skills used on 8,000m peaks, without the high altitude. Mount Hood is one of the least-committing peaks in the area, and a great first snow climb for climbers who are new to crampons and ice axes. The most common summit route, the South Side Route, is a half-day climb from the Timberline Lodge, and is guided regularly from late April through June every year.
Breithorn (via the Normal Route), Switzerland, 4,164m
The Breithorn’s western summit may be the most-climbed 4,000m peak in the Alps, thanks to the Klein Matterhorn cable car, which takes climbers to 3,883m, less than 300m below the summit. From that point, though, climbers head across and up a glacier and snow climbing up to 35 degrees, requiring use of crampons and ice axe. It’s a short climb, but its snow climbing and high altitude make it a good entree for beginning mountaineers.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, 5895m
Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain, and one of the world’s highest free-standing peaks, a volcano almost 6,000m high. And that’s the biggest challenge in climbing it — adjusting to the thin air at altitude. All of the routes on Kilimanjaro require a local guide, but are simply hiking on trails. Most guide services take clients from the start of the climb at around 1,800m to the 5,895m summit over the course of five or six days, allowing climbers to acclimatise to the increasingly thin air. It provides aspiring mountaineers the chance to see how their bodies react at high altitude without the technical or objective risks (avalanches, crevasse falls) of other high mountains.
