
Savage Arena
Joe Tasker
'One of the best and most important climbing books that has been written.' – Sir Chris Bonington
Joe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the ‘big’ mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true ‘alpine-style’ climbs in the Greater Ranges.
The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains. A superb writer, he vividly describes the first British winter ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang – considered a ‘preposterous’ plan by the climbing world – and his two unsuccessful attempts on K2, the second highest mountain on Earth.
Savage Arena is both moving and exciting, an inspirational tale of the adventuring spirit which follows its own path, endlessly seeking new challenges, climbs and difficulties to overcome. It is not reaching the summit which counts, it is the journey to it. It is also a story of the stresses and strains of living for long periods in constant anxiety, often with only one other person, and of the close and vital human relationships which spring from those circumstances.
Duration - 13h 53m.
Author - Joe Tasker.
Narrator - Stewart Crank.
Published Date - Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Copyright - © 1982 Vertebrate Publishing ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
'One of the best and most important climbing books that has been written.' – Sir Chris Bonington Joe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the ‘big’ mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true ‘alpine-style’ climbs in the Greater Ranges. The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains. A superb writer, he vividly describes the first British winter ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang – considered a ‘preposterous’ plan by the climbing world – and his two unsuccessful attempts on K2, the second highest mountain on Earth. Savage Arena is both moving and exciting, an inspirational tale of the adventuring spirit which follows its own path, endlessly seeking new challenges, climbs and difficulties to overcome. It is not reaching the summit which counts, it is the journey to it. It is also a story of the stresses and strains of living for long periods in constant anxiety, often with only one other person, and of the close and vital human relationships which spring from those circumstances. Duration - 13h 53m. Author - Joe Tasker. Narrator - Stewart Crank. Published Date - Saturday, 17 January 2026. Copyright - © 1982 Vertebrate Publishing ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:10
Publisher’s Note
Duration:00:00:47
Foreword by Chris Bonington: A Great Partnership
Duration:00:10:29
Chapter 1: Or Men Will Come for You
Duration:00:24:15
Chapter 2: It is Forbidden to Walk on the Track: The Eiger
Duration:01:03:39
Chapter 3: It Could be Worse: Dunagiri
Duration:01:08:50
Chapter 3 continued ...
Duration:01:35:29
Chapter 4: Figures on a Screen: Changabang
Duration:00:50:54
Chapter 4 continued ...
Duration:01:11:24
Chapter 5: ‘Let’s Draw Matchsticks’: K2
Duration:01:39:07
Chapter 6: In the Treasure House of the Great Snow: Kangchenjunga
Duration:01:52:23
Chapter 6 continued ...
Duration:01:14:02
Chapter 7: Apocalypse: K2
Duration:00:50:58
Chapter 7 continued ...
Duration:01:43:01
Postscript
Duration:00:05:09
About the Author
Duration:00:02:11
Closing Credits
Duration:00:00:21