Brothers of the Mountains

It's a timely story about a certain philosophy of mountaineering: in an era when expeditions to the most famous peaks in the world have become a commercial business that often ends in tragedy for the sake of publicity and profits, Squinobals' experience helps us understand that you should know your own limits and respect the mountains if you want to enjoy them. Arturo and Oreste Squinobal are carpenters, alpine guides, mountaineers and protagonists of exceptional climbing exploits in the Alps and the Himalayas in the '70s and '80s. The highlight of the book is the story of their ascent to Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain on Earth, 8586 meters high. Oreste made it to the top in 1982 without supplemental oxygen. While climbing Kangchenjunga the two brothers reassess their roots - the Walser culture of the Gressoney Valley in Italy where they grew up - and discover they have a lot in common with the Sherpas and the people of Nepal. When they go back home, they decide not to leverage their fame to become full time professionals in the great circus of sponsorships. They prefer to keep enjoying the mountains together with friends and family. "Climbing the Everest or hiking on an easy path, you have the same opportunity to find that 'something' that you are looking for."