Come face to face with those who have spent their lives at altitude: explorers and pioneering travelers, intrepid ice climbers and extreme skiers, ecologists, photographers, and film-makers. The weathered faces of black-and-white portraiture from the world's great collections are displayed alongside modern photographs by a group of leading adventure photographers, such as Glen Denny, Cory Richards, and Gordon Wiltsie.

Among those featured are Sir Edmund Hillary, Tom Hornbein, Conrad Kain, Yvon Chouinard, George Mallory, Alex Lowe, Lynn Hill, Reinhold Messner, Tenzing Norgay, Joe Simpson, Jim Whittaker, Galen Rowell, Edward Whymper, Royal Robbins, Pat Morrow, Fred Beckey, Steph Davis, Marko Prezelj, Kit Deslauriers, Dean Potter, and Steve House.

A unique and beautifully designed book, Mountain Heroes also includes special contributions from admired members of the mountaineering community, including Sir Chris Bonington, Stephen Venables, and Doug Scott.