Pat Ament

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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.

[edit] Publications

Ament, Pat (1992). Royal Robbins: Spirit of the Age. Boulder, Colorado, USA.: Two Lights. ISBN 1-881663-02-7.
Ament, Pat (1996). Stories of a Young Climber. Two Lights Publishing, 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. Climbing Classics #1, Stackpole Books.
Ament, Pat (1998). John Gill: Master of Rock. Climbing Classics #2, Stackpole Books.
Ament, Pat (1999). Climbing Everest. Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill.
Ament, Pat (2002). Wizards of Rock: A History of Free Climbing in America. Wilderness Press.