Going to Extremes

Comprising some of Derek Grzelewski's best-published work to date, the stories in this book all explore and reveal some unexpected element of the extreme. They transport you to extraordinary, unknown and inaccessible places, and to meet a diverse range of people, some forgotten, some 'elite', some 'ordinary'. As Grzelewski discovers, some of the most extreme adventures and heroic deeds often happen in our daily lives, and pass unacknowledged and out of sight. If you doubt that he says, ask any fire-fighter, or, better still, join their training programme. It will redefine your idea of 'extreme', as it redefined his. Going to Extremes is not just about challenging outdoor pursuits such as climbing, caving and mountaineering: here the extreme can be found in anything from saving endangered species, to maritime rescue or pioneering aviation. The common thread is the inner fire, the passion and the commitment.