Pat Ament

Pat Ament (born 1946) is an American rock climber who has achieved distinction not only with his first ascents, but as an author of more than two dozen books on the sport. Ament began his climbing career in 1958, and by the mid 1960s had established the first 5.11 climbs in Colorado (Supremacy Crack) and Yosemite (Center Slack). A former college gymnast, he was also a dedicated boulderer, and put up many challenging problems on Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, Colorado. His climbing and bouldering companions over the years include Royal Robbins, Bob Kamps, Tom Higgins, John Gill, and Layton Kor. In addition to his rock acrobatics, Ament is a black belt in Karate.

As an author, Ament's best known works include the guide "High Over Boulder", and the sports biographies of Royal Robbins and John Gill. He produced an inclusive compendium of ascents and climbers in his 2002 historical work, "Wizards of Rock: A History of Free Climbing in America". And his whimsical "Climbing Everest" is a rambling and humorous philosophical essay, adorned with drawings by the author. Ament is a poet and an artist, as well as a musician, and has written, drawn, and composed extensively in these aesthetic realms.

Pat Ament received a 2008 Cassar Jewelers ClimbFest Award for Lifetime Achievement as a climber and author at a ceremony in Ogden, Utah during April 2008.

Publications

• Ament, Pat (1967). "High Over Boulder" (first of 5 revisions). D&K Printing, Pruett Press, Two Lights, etc.
• Ament, Pat (1973). "Swaramandal." Vitaar Publishing. Boulder.
• Ament, Pat (1977). "Master of Rock (the Biography of John Gill)." Alpine House.
• Ament, Pat (1978). "Rock Wise, reflections, safety, and technique in rock climbing." March Press, Boulder.
• Ament, Pat (1980). "Eldorado -- a rock climber's guide." March Press, Boulder.
• Ament, Pat (1980). "A Climber's Playground, a guide to the boulders of Flagstaff Mountain." March Press.
• Ament, Pat (1984). "Direct Lines." Two Lights, Boulder.
• Ament, Pat (1992). Royal Robbins: Spirit of the Age. Boulder, Colorado, USA.: Two Lights. ISBN 1-881663-02-7.
• Ament, Pat (1989). "Care And Consciousness in Climbing." Two Lights Publishing.
• Ament, Pat (1991). "High Endeavors." Mountain N' Air Books
• Ament, Pat (1996). Stories of a Young Climber. Two Lights, Boulder.
• Ament, Pat (1997). How To Be A Master Climber In Six Easy Lessons. Boulder, Colorado, USA.: Two Lights. ISBN 0-9648606-4-3.
• Ament, Pat (1998). Royal Robbins: Spirit of the Age. Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania.
• Ament, Pat (1998). John Gill: Master of Rock. Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania.
• Ament, Pat (1999). "Reflections on Being the Best Climber in the World." Two Lights Publishing.
• Ament, Pat (1999). Climbing Everest. Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill.
• Ament, Pat (2002). "Climber's Choice (best climbing writers, their work)." Ragged Mountain/McGraw-Hill.
• Ament, Pat (2002). Wizards of Rock: A History of Free Climbing in America. Wilderness Press, Berkeley.
• Ament, Pat (2003). "Too High, misadventures on Everest (a book of cartoons)." Two Lights.
• Ament, Pat (2005). "Everything That Matters, (Remembering Rock Climbing)." Two Lights.

Master of Rock and Spirit of the Age have been translated and published in Japanese, Italian, and Spanish.

References

• John Gill's Website
• Tom Higgin's Website

External links

• Books by Ament on Amazon.com