On the Nose

In 30 years of climbing, Hans Florine has ascended the Nose route of El Capitan over 100 times, more than anyone else has, and most likely ever will. In On the Nose, Florine describes the most dangerous, pivotal, and inspirational of those climbs, providing a rare look inside the adrenaline-charged world of competitive climbing in Yosemite Valley. He tells of his very first attempt on the Nose, which ended in failure after 14 hours, his friendships - and rivalries - with climbing's most colorful personalities, and his battle with the late Dean Potter to secure the definitive speed record on the Nose - an endeavor that's been called "the wildest competition known to man".



In addition to his climbing accolades, Hans Florine is the coauthor of Speed Climbing, and has contributed to three other books, as well as written articles for Rock and Ice and Climbing. Hans served as executive director of the American Sport Climbers Federation from 1992 to 1996, and is currently an Ambassador for The Access Fund, as well as manager and shareholder at Touchstone Climbing & Fitness, the largest climbing gym chain in the country. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and maintains strong relationships, fundraising and otherwise, with Yosemite Conservancy, Outward Bound, The Access Fund, American Safe Climbing Association, American Alpine Club, Sierra Club, and Nature Bridge. He is also a professional motivational speaker, delivering keynotes at trade shows, conferences, and college auditoriums worldwide, from local rotary club meetings to Fortune 500 events.

Jayme Moye is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Boulder, Colo., and the former managing editor of Elevation Outdoors. She’s a regular contributor at National Geographic Adventure, Men’s Journal, Travel + Leisure, and Fodor’s Travel Intelligence. She also writes for National Geographic Traveler, New York, ESPN, Women’s Adventure, Bicycling, and Runner’s World. In 2014, Moye was named Travel Writer of the Year by the North American Travel Journalists Association.