Have You Ever Held a Mountain?

Mountains have been symbolic since the beginning of time. Our imagination has always given life to their presence. We name them, even feature them in our history and our lives.John Maling has created a poem about and around the life of a mountain that touches the very life that bursts from its core to the inhabitants and majestic surroundings. Each line resonates with the spectacular photography taken by Grant Collier and John Maling.32 inspiring and thoughtful lines enable the reader to climb with the author and photographers from the opening of the poem ... Have you ever held a mountain. Cupped it gently in your hand. Felt the texture of its ridges. Sifted slow its granite sand. Brushed its trees and touched its meadows. Heard its glaciers grinding down. Felt wet and rocky muscle. Under flesh of green and brown? ... to the closing. And then, the reader will immediately start from the beginning, savoring the words and photos once again.

John Maling is a retired physicist who has always loved the mountains, since he first began climbing as a student at Standford University. This is his first book at the age of 77!Grant Collier is a national recognized and published author/photographer of five books and an annual calendar.