Imaginary Peaks: The Riesenstein Hoax and Other Mountain Dreams

2022 Banff Mountain Book Competition Special Jury Mention

“A book every thoughtful adventurer and seeker of dreams should read.” — Outside

· Author is a renowned writer in international climbing community
· Fascinating story of hoax that inspired a quest for a North American Shangri-La
· Vivid recounting of fabled mountains from across the world

Using an infamous deception about a fake mountain range in British Columbia as her jumping-off point, Katie Ives, the well-known editor of Alpinist, explores the lure of blank spaces on the map and the value of the imagination. In Imaginary Peaks she details the cartographical mystery of the Riesenstein Hoax within the larger context of climbing history and the seemingly endless quest for newly discovered peaks and claims of first ascents. Imaginary Peaks is an evocative, thought-provoking tale, immersed in the literature of exploration, study of maps, and basic human desire.