The bright future of British Mountaineering is under the spotlight in this edition of the Alpine Journal with contributions from the latest generation of leading alpinists - Ben Silvestre, Uisdean Hawthorn, Tom Livingstone and Ben Tibbetts - and their compelling ascents in the Himalaya, Alaska and the Alps.

Ian Parnell explains how mentoring schemes around the world have stimulated debate in Britain and led to a revamp of the Alpine Climbing Group.

In this centenary year of the Armistice, we also commemorate the sacrifice of another era's young members who died in the First World War and recall how fighting reached the highest parts of Europe as troops from opposing armies faced off in the Alps and Dolomites. Jonathan Westaway examines the inspiring life of E O Shebbeare, an early Everest climber whose forestry career prefigure todays environmentalism.

The clinical psychologist and Himalayan mountaineer Malcolm Bass applies his professional skill to his passion for alpinism, Mike Searle looks back on the Nepali earthquake - and forward to the next one. Victor Saunders take a wry look at societies attitude to risk. Terry Gifford considers mountain literature as a form of 'dark pastoralism' and Donald Orr takes a fresh look at the mountain art of Ferdinand Hodler.

With its comprehensive look at mountain literature and coverage of first ascents around the world, the alpine journal is an indispensable resource for alpinists around the world.