Part of the popular Trailblazers Famous missionary to China

The old adage that 'behind every strong man there is a stronger woman' has never been more true than in the case of Lance Armstrong, six-time Tour de France winner, cancer survivor and bestselling author. Anyone who knows Lance is in no doubt about where he found his inspiration. A force of nature, his mother Linda's determination and sheer joie de vivre not only nurtured one of our era's greatest athletes, but fuelled her transformation from poverty-stricken teen to powerful role model. Kicked out of home at 17 after refusing to get an abortion, dismissed from high school for being pregnant, and trapped in an abusive relationship as an unmarried mother, Linda was a candidate for disaster. But, armed with a fierce belief in herself as a work in progress and buoyed by a tidal wave of love for her little boy, she beat the odds as a struggling single parent and, despite her lack of education, went on to become a highly successful telecommunications executive and a no-nonsense, empowering mother whose desire to excel was contagious. Her resolve to make every setback an opportunity set an extraordinary example for Lance and her remarkable story is a testament to dreaming big - and making a difference.Upbeat, determined, hard-working, loving, forgiving, funny and unsinkable, this is a woman who managed to not only overcome the odds but embrace life and enjoy it, whatever it threw at her. And the readership for this inspirational tale of triumph over adversity will extend well beyond those merely curious about Lance Armstrong. The philosophy that shines through these pages will appeal to many women, and most certainly mothers everywhere. Linda was at Lance's side throughout his treatment for cancer and they remain extremely close. His first book, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE, was dedicated to her, and he has written a moving Foreword to this remarkable book.

The sudden, tragic death of Ned Levitt's 18-year-old accomplished daughter, Stacey, plunged him into a hell of devastating grief. But his determination to take meaning from her life pushed him to finish her un-finished climb of 17,000 ft. high Mt. Ixta in central Mexico and leave behind a book of Stacey's poetry, which has been read by thousands of climbers from around the world. No Mountain Too High's intimate detailing of personal torment, coupled with its revelations of how Stacey's poetry touched countless lives, makes for a moving, compelling read that takes you to places of the heart and soul that even this forever-changed father never expected to go.

The sudden, tragic death of Ned Levitts 18-year-old accomplished daughter, Stacey, plunged him into a hell of devastating grief. But his determination to take meaning from her life pushed him to finish her un-finished climb of 17,000 ft. high Mt. Ixta in central Mexico and leave behind a book of Staceys poetry, which has been read by thousands of climbers from around the world. No Mountain Too Highs intimate detailing of personal torment, coupled with its revelations of how Staceys poetry touched countless lives, makes for a moving, compelling read that takes you to places of the heart and soul that even this forever-changed father never expected to go.

"Should appeal to all rugged individualists who dream of escape to the forest."—The New York Times Book Review Sam Gribley is terribly unhappy living in New York City with his family, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountains to live in the woods—all by himself. With only a penknife, a ball of cord, forty dollars, and some flint and steel, he intends to survive on his own. Sam learns about courage, danger, and independence during his year in the wilderness, a year that changes his life forever. “An extraordinary book . . . It will be read year after year.” —The Horn Book

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS Mountain High is a book for cyclists of all interests and abilities - from experienced club racers to enthusiastic amateurs looking for the world's greatest cycle challenge. Packed with practical route information and advice on each climb, Daniel Friebe's beautifully written text explains why each mountain pass merits inclusion in the top 50 with superb descriptions of the majestic scenery, the heroic deeds of cycling's legendary riders or the sheer endeavour and exhilaration of reaching the summit. With over 250 specially commissioned photographs taken by specialist cycling photographer Pete Goding, this really is the ultimate guide to Europe's 50 best climbs. Featured rides include: Tour de France icons Alpe d'Huez, Col du Galibier, Mont Ventoux, Col de l'Izoard and Col du Tourmalet; the Passo dello Stelvio, Passo Fedaia, Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo and other sacred summits from the Giro d'Italia; plus Spain's formidable Alto de l'Angliru, Austria's Grossglockner and forty more mountain legends.

"An action adventure about the climb of Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, by a 60-year-old man and his son and their subsequent efforts to raise money for the children and women of Tanzania, Africa."--

A school trip to rural Nepal when Kumaran Rasappan was 15 years old gave him his first glimpse of Mt Everest, and launched him on a lifelong journey of adventuring that would take him to over 20 mountains, from the wilderness of Kilimanjaro to the frozen glaciers of Sichuan and ultimately to the roof of the world, Mt Everest. Dr Kumaran tells the story of his extraordinary journey from sheltered Singaporean to adventurer, doctor and humanitarian. Along the way, he witnessed death, experienced avalanches, survived earthquakes and made surprising discoveries about the tenacity of the human spirit, the nature of success and failure, and the beauty of different cultures. The biggest lesson that his journey has taught him is that one's success and failure cannot be defined by others. Each one of us has our own mountain to climb.

Caldecott Honor Book! "An evocative remembrance of the simple pleasures in country living; splashing in the swimming hole, taking baths in the kitchen, sharing family times, each is eloquently portrayed here in both the misty-hued scenes and in the poetic text." -Association for Childhood Education International

What does it take to be one of the world's best high-altitude mountain climbers? A lot of fundraising; traveling in some of the world's most dangerous countries; enduring cold bivouacs, searing lungs, and a cloudy mind when you can least afford one. It means learning the hard lessons the mountains teach. Steve House built his reputation on ascents throughout the Alps, Canada, Alaska, the Karakoram and the Himalaya that have expanded possibilities of style, speed, and difficulty. In 2005 Steve and alpinist Vince Anderson pioneered a direct new route on the Rupal Face of 26,600-foot Nanga Parbat, which had never before been climbed in alpine style. It was the third ascent of the face and the achievement earned Steveand Vince the first Piolet d"or (Golden Ice Axe) awarded to North Americans. Steve is an accomplished and spellbinding storyteller in the tradition of Maurice Herzog and Lionel Terray. Beyond the Mountain is a gripping read destined to be a mountain classic. And it