David Roberts is really one of my favorite climber-authors, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with "The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer." I think Roberts' close friendship with Washburn got in the way of writing a truly marvelous book.

I found it strange that I read so much mountaineering history about the Himalayas when Washburn himself never actually climbed there (though he took some terrific pictures of Everest by plane while visiting Nepal.) It was hard to get immersed in the story as Roberts frequently veered off retelling the adventures of other people who were only marginally connected to Washburn (and in some cases not at all.)

I preferred Washburn's autobiography over Roberts' book. ( )

Living in Boston, I come across evidence of Washburn every so often: pictures up in the hallway at Eastern Standard, paintings in the Museum of Science. I found a used hardcover of this book and grabbed it since it included a few of his aerial photographs. I think the author got infected by Brad Washburn's over-user of superlatives, everything is best, most, highest, first, etc. I'm a bit sad that there isn't more detail about the actual climbing, the most detail surrounds the almost-deaths, there's not a lot in the day to day to give a sense of what it felt like to be on an expedition to climb a mountain in Alaska. Granted, the sheer volume of expeditions that Washburn made could have expanded the book to five times the current length. In the epilogue, the author details his mountain climbing experiences that were inspired by and helped along by Washburn. I'd like to track down Barbara Washburn's memoir, "The Accidental Adventurer" - she was out there on the mountains with Brad as soon as they were married. ( )

I'm a sucker for a good true life adventure story, especially if it involves challenging mountain climbing. Therefore, I looked forward to reading the latest book by David Roberts, who co-wrote the brilliant 'No Shortcuts to the top' with Ed Viesturs. 'The last of his kind' is a biography, almost a eulogy, of Bradford Washburn who pioneered mountaineering in Alaska and Norhtwest Canada, making 13 first ascents in 23 years of climbing. He is also credited with exploring large tracts of the Northwest and filling in several large blank spaces that existed on maps well into the 20th century.

While Robert's book had lots of good information about Washburn's expeditions and more than a few thrilling moments it had its weak moments as well. Much of the story is based on Washburn's extensive journals and letters. Even so, I missed the first person intimacy of books such as 'No shortcuts to the top' or 'Into thin air'. Washburn's flapper era slang (Zeus, it's grand to be out here!) tends to get old after a while. I also think that extended descriptions describing his grammar school papers and all the girls he ever dated added little to the story.

All in all I enjoyed 'The last of his kind' although I think it may be of more interests to serious climbers interested in learning where some of the techniques used today got their start. ( )