Book excerpt: As a mountain climbing guide, it was Vern Tejas's job to climb the tallest and most dangerous mountains in the world. Always rebellious, Tejas never met a challenge he couldn't overcome, even the daunting task of climbing Mount Everest. In fact, he climbed all of the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents more than ten times each. Seventy Summits is his tale of the beauty, danger, and surprising freedom of mountain climbing and what it has given him throughout his life. Climb Mt. McKinley with Tejas as he battles extreme cold. Scale Aconcagua and its windy peaks. Mont Blanc provides beautiful views, but Mt. Elbrus towers over the European continent. The Roof of Africa is attempted by 35,000 people each year, but Mt. Kilimanjaro isn't as friendly as it looks and many people get hypothermia on this tropical mountain. Antarctica s Mt. Vinson boasts the last true frontier, a costly climbing trip that keeps getting more and more expensive. Take a break on Mt Koscuiszko. As Australia s tallest mountain, it s practically a stroll in the park at 7,310 feet. Finally, join Tejas on the tallest mountain in the world: Mt. Everest. Better yet, read about him doing all of them ten times each.