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November 4, 1999 The Totem Pole Takes Grand Prize at the 1999 Banff Mountain Book Festival The Totem Pole: and a Whole New Adventure by Welsh author and climber Paul Pritchard is the winner of the 1999 Banff Mountain Book Festival Grand Prize, the $2000 Phyllis and Don Munday Award sponsored by the Alberta Sections of the Alpine Club of Canada. The festival awards were presented on Thursday evening, November 4. Pritchard's book is a perceptive, humane and inspiring account of his experience to surmount unbelievable odds following a climbing accident in 1998 that inflicted such terrible injuries that the doctors thought he might never walk or speak again. At the time of the accident he was climbing a slender sea stack called in Tasmania called The Totem Pole. He had paid for the trip from the prize winnings he received for the 1997 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature for his book Deep Play. "Without self pity, Pritchard records the rediscovery of his own will to live, and the control required to move about and to motivate himself in a world made alien by his own disabilities," says jury member John Porter. The international jury chose Pritchard's book from a group of 30 titles which were selected as finalists last month from a record-breaking 102 entries representing nine countries. This year's book festival jury members include well-known ice climber Will Gadd, Canmore, Alberta; John Porter, Director of the Kendal Film Festival and a Boardman Tasker judge, UK; and Michael Pause, editor of Germany's Berge magazine. Other category winners:Jon Whyte Award for Mountain Literature, sponsored by The Whyte Museum of the
Canadian Rockies - $1000 "Sid Marty's stories express in wonderful words his deep passion for the mountains where he is at home," says jury member Michael Pause. Best Book - Mountain Exposition, sponsored by Mountain Lights
Bookstore, Lake Louise, Canada - $500 "You can either read Twight's book or beat yourself up in the mountains learning the same lessons," says jury member Will Gadd. Best Book - Mountain Image, sponsored by Adventurous Traveler
Bookstore, Burlington, Vermont - $500 "The book is convincing in its brilliant text and images and it shows Sella's significant contribution to mountain photography," Pause says. Best Book - Adventure Travel, sponsored by Mountain
Travel*Sobek, El Cerrito, CA - $500 "An honest, well composed, unexpected book, written without pretense or any sense of fulfilling an obligation. This should be required pre-reading for all trekkers planning a "get there" holiday in the Himalaya," says jury member John Porter. Special Jury Mention - Biography "Truthful and always competent, Breashears reflects his life and how alpinism and climbing helped him overcome childhood hardship," says Pause. Special Jury Mention - Fiction "The language Anne Sauvy uses remains close to the action; she succeeds in conveying to the reader the values of alpinism," Pause says. Special Jury Mention - Design "Through the creative layout an design of the book the development and history as well as technical aspects of mountain biking are exceptionally presented," says Pause. In addition to the above, the following awards were also presented:Canadian Rockies Award, sponsored by Eagle Creek Travel Gear for the best book
on the Canadian Rockies Canadian Alpine Journal Award: $250 sponsored by the Canadian Himalayan
Foundation for the best article in the 1999 Canadian Alpine Journal The Banff Mountain Book Festival is the only festival of its kind in North America. The festival, which runs in conjunction with the Banff Mountain Film Festival, is a celebration of mountain literature which brings together writers, publishers, editors, photographers and - of course - readers. Featuring guest speakers, readings, seminars, a book fair, book signings and launches, the festival offers a wide spectrum of experiences for the participants and the audience
Debra Hornsby, Marketing and Communications Manager, Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre promotes understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share – and find inspiration in – mountain experiences, ideas and visions. The 6th Annual Banff Mountain Book Festival,
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