Hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering have long been favourite pastimes in this country. Dan MacCarthy says Paddy O’Leary’s new history captures the intense rivalry of these sports’ participants

MARCI Reardon sits at her desk in the offices of Countrywide Financial in Oak Park, California. It’s Friday morning, Jul 13, 2007, and she’s fighting this niggling feeling something’s not right. Michael. For the longest time she’s tended to receive this odd sensation whenever Michael’s been hurt, some kind of connection.

DANGLING half way down a mountain from a nylon rope like some agitated spider is probably not the best place to wonder if the sport of climbing is for you.