“Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckledand Knuckleheaded — Quest for the Rocky Mountain High” ($26, Free Press) will ring true for anyone who has ever shredded a kneecap on a scree field, cursed those 4 a.m. fumblings to find a trail or nearly ripped off a limb trying to get below treeline in a thunderstorm — all in the name of “bagging” one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Author and former Denver Post reporter Mark Obmascik three years ago found himself making good on a promise to his wife to follow the buddy system in his pursuit of the 54 summits, which led to the amusing, and occasionally alarming, tales in this book, interwoven with compelling tidbits from Colorado’s colorful history. The result is a read as smooth and enjoyable as a walk in Wash Park.
Obmascik will discuss “Halfway to Heaven” at the Boulder Book Store (1107 Pearl St., Boulder) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and at the Tattered Cover LoDo (1628 16th St.) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Kyle Wagner
