This exciting and lavishly illustrated book tells the story of Max Chaya’s three-year climbing odyssey.
Max took on each of the Seven Summits - the highest peak(s) on each continent - as well as the North and South Poles. His account, set in some of the harshest environments on the planet, is an intimate portrayal of pain, despair and tragedy as well as triumph, joy and achievement.

“The book was hugely enjoyable and I’m sure it will appeal to a wide range of people. You’ve included facts, figures and technical information which will appeal to adventurous types, plenty of human interest about yourself, your family and your companions, details about the local life and atmosphere in each of the places that you visited, the disappointments as well as the triumphs and, to punctuate it all, plenty of humour – crappy toilets included!

I have to confess I had difficulty reading the last two pages, because my eyes were brimming with tears after the build-up to the Big E climax, the sheer exhaustion of getting there, and then the dreadful tragedy of watching a man die on your way down. It was very emotional, helping the reader to understand that it’s not just about achievement and glory.

The photos are absolutely amazing and will make Steep Dreams a fantastic coffee table book.” – Jenny Jones, Professional Editor and Proofreader (United Kingdom)
Click here for the list of bookstores where STEEP DREAMS: My Journey to the Top of the World is available.
Over 700 spectacular photos

Written with New York Times best-selling author Richard Buskin

High drama as Maxime Chaya:

» Encounters death on the mountain

» Endures the highest, coldest, windiest, most desolate places on earth

» Pushes his mind and body beyond the limit
Outline
Foreword
By Børge Ousland, Norwegian polar explorer and friend
Introduction
Background information about Max’s younger years, and why / how he got the idea of climbing the Seven Summits.
Chapters 1 to 16
One chapter for each expedition, in chronological order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Kilimanjaro - Metamorphosis
Mount Elbrus & Cerro Aconcagua - The Learning Curve
Denali (Mount McKinley) - The Kick Start
Cho Oyu - Peeking into the Death Zone
Cerro Aconcagua - The Rematch
Kosciusko & Aspiring - The Easy Task
Geographic North Pole - Polar Greetings
Gasherbrum I - Caught in the Couloir
Vinson Massif - The Pristine Peak
Geographic South Pole - A Different Planet
Island Peak - In the Company of Giants
Ama Dablam - Praying for Mercy
Mount Elbrus - Skinning up, Skiing down
The Matterhorn - Three of Three
Carstenz Pyramid - Behind Enemy Lines
Chomolungma (Mount Everest) - Triumph & Tragedy