The recipe seems to be to combine a connecting theme, an able writer and a dedicated and talented photographer. Mix them together and a book to browse and admire is produced.
This is one of these.
Paul Hersey is a Dunedin-based author, climber and surfer and Mark Watson a climber.
Despite their background, and despite the inclusion of Mitre Peak, Aspiring, Double Cone (the Remarkables), Mt Rolleston (Arthurs Pass) and Aoraki Mt Cook, this is not a book aimed at climbers.
Instead, Hersey and Watson spent a year, from Manaia in Northland to Mt Anglem on Stewart Island, seeking stories about the peaks, with sketches, too, of people involved today. They endeavour to give each mountain a flavour, a personality.
As well as the personal adventure in each climb, interspersed is information and history. The coverage naturally varies in content, is a little uneven and cannot be comprehensive. The goal is to lead us on journeys to and around the various peaks.
Mt Eden in Auckland is a stroll, Hikurangi on the East Coast of the North Island is in part a cultural excursion and Mt Arthur, near Nelson, is mostly underground.
Further chapters are Pirongia Mountain (Waikato's highest landmark), Mt Ruapehu, Mt Taranaki, Mt Hector (the Tararuas) and Tapuae-o-Uenuku (the Kaikouras) - 15 in all.
As is the way with such books, it is not the type most would read from cover to cover within a week. The stories, while interesting, are not quite gripping enough for that. But Our Mountains is a publication to leave lying around so as to consume decent slices regularly.
The stories, for me, also spur a desire to have a go at a few more of these peaks, although several are extremely ambitious undertakings and most are certainly not for everyone.
From this point of view, the ''climbing notes'' at the back are a helpful guide about what might be possible.
Oh well, four down (or should that be up) and 11 to go.
Win a copy
The ODT has five copies of Our Mountains, by Paul Hersey and Mark Watson (RRP $45), to give away courtesy of publisher New Holland.
For your chance to win a copy, email helen.speirs@odt.co.nz with your name and postal address in the body of the email, and ''Our Mountains Book Competition'' in the subject line, by 5pm on Tuesday, November 5.
- Phillip Somerville is ODT editorial manager and a keen alpine tramper.
