The tales in this book are those of human struggles, when extraordinary people rose to the formidable challenge before them. Most succeeded, going forward with their lives. All involved heroism. The author and you, the reader, may ponder if, when faced with such difficult odds, we too would emerge triumphant.Ralph Battles has been a fifty year avid Sierra hiker, peak bagger, backpacker and history buff. The nine stories in this, his second book, are full of "armchair adventure", great for campfire readings or for those winter evenings when the reader is at home or cabin, eager for a taste of the high country.