The beginning of Fallen Giants began very slow, with a lot of information regarding mountains, a goddess, and elevations that I found quite hard to keep track of. I did however find it very interesting and thoughtful that explorers such as Adolf Schlagintweit gave offerings before venturing into the Traill’s Pass as a sign of respect not only to the goddess, but also to the natives, their religion, and tales. Throughout the beginning chapter, it appears that as we all know, history has a way of repeating itself; it was clear throughout the beginning of the book that countries such as Britain and Germany began the steps to not only explore these vast mountain ranges, but also to lay claim to them.

Due to the small amount of knowledge and information pertaining to the mountains, many countries thought this range of land to be “unconquered” and up for grabs, with some such as the British using the excuse of surveying, mapping, and discovery as their ticket into a strictly closed land to foreigners and with others such as Germany claiming to be descendants and therefor, possessing a divine right to the land. Throughout history, if countries or human beings for that matter view a land uncharted or undiscovered to the majority of the world, it is up for grabs and I think that was the initial motivation behind mountaineering. If one could scale a mountain such as Everest, it gave their respective nation a sense of pride and because that citizen was the first, in an unsaid way, it was that country’s mountain.

It was also fascinating how climbers such as Martin Conway became innovative in their quest for mountain dominance and began recruiting natives to participate due to their knowledge and experience regarding the mountains and also the climates; I could not help but relate this part of the book with that of Native American scouts and the United States Army. The romanticizing of discovery also gave exploration a very exciting reputation due in large part to the journals kept by men such as Conway who led many to imagine that mountains held mythical creatures such as dragons and giants, it enticed people and also made individual discoveries that much more momentous and grandeur. After all, how would anyone reading those journals know what mountains housed? They had never been to those parts of the world before. Because of Conway’s journals and descriptions, it not only immortalized explorers in history but it also blazed the trail for future mountaineering through sponsors, press, and also writing down pieces of history and discovery.

Of all the men within these chapters the one I found most shocking or deemed “page turning” was Edward Crowley and I’m not sure if it was due to his nickname or his declaration of being a Satanist, I think it’s because I’m religious. What I found most shocking was the subversive aspect of a climber being a Satanist due to the religious and mythical aspects that mountains had embodied for as long as humans could remember. It was interesting that although this man believed in a religion so polar opposite of the religions that played a large part in the identity of the mountains, he too was captivated and drawn to them as well because of their mystery and the challenges that each range had. I guess if the mountains are calling then you must go.