Sea, Ice and Rock: Sailing and climbing Above the Arctic Circle

When leading mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington was researching Quest for Adventure, his study of post-war adventure, he contacted Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, for an interview. This simple request turned into an exchange of skills, which then grew into a joint expedition to Greenlands unexplored Lemon Mountains. Sea, Ice and Rock is the story of this epic journey.

With both Bonington and Knox-Johnston having little experience in the others craft, their expedition was not without difficulty. But through one anothers support, the two men and their team sailed from Britain to Greenland, going on to twice attempt the Lemon Mountains forbidding highest peak, the Cathedral. Though their attempts ended in a dramatic descent, this could not dampen the unfailing optimism with which the two approached their task. They recount their experiences not only with appreciation for the awe-inspiring nature that surrounded them, but also for one another.

Layers of alternate narration between Bonington and Knox-Johnston make this a truly collaborative memoir. In the same way they exchanged skills on their expedition, the two authors rely on one anothers recollections to fill the gaps in their own. Full of ambition and perseverance, anyone wondering why Bonington and Knox-Johnston are masters in their fields need only read Sea, Ice and Rock.