· Tales of legendary rescues in the Pacific Northwest
· The history of the founding of the Mountain Rescue Association
· Sketches of key participants in the Pacific Northwest mountain rescue community
· Superb mountain drawings by the author illustrate rescue locations

Dee Molenaar, author of the definitive climbing guide, The Challenge of Rainier, has written fascinating accounts of the legendary mountain rescues and recoveries in the Pacific Northwest. In telling these tales of triumph and tragedy, he has also traced the formation and evolution of the mountain rescue groups that carried out these missions.

Starting first with an overview of the physical characteristics of the mountaineering environment, Molenaar writes eloquently about the specific physical characteristics of Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, where many rescues and recoveries have taken place over the years.

Then the tales of rescues begin: a moment of inattention that leads to a fall; six climbers falling into a crevasse after an out of control slide; a young climber lost on a solo winter ascent of Rainier; a Marine aircraft crash. And in all cases, Molenaar details how volunteers risk everything to carry out rescues.