Are editions of "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills" very different?

The newer edition is updated for belays, bouldering, sport climbing, and other techniques including better sections on ice tools and use.

There's enough of significance in revisions that I can recommend the most recent edition as having a lot of details that have changed since the 1992 edition in both technique and equipment.

Another book worth a look is by Falcon Press on anchoring, definitely a good reference.

This is the Bible for climbing, covering most topics and techniques in good detail. A great reference.

Tomm is right...they update the editions periodically to reflect new equipment and technique. I have all 7 editions and it is interesting to look through them to see how climbing has changed through the decades. I would go ahead and purchase the 7th edition...it is the most up to date and has the most modern techniques. The Mountaineers release a new edition about every 5 to 7 years.

BTW..the 6th edition came out in 1997, not 1992. They are getting ready to release the 8th edition in a couple of years.

Freedom Of The Hills

I would define freedom as a state of being where I am able to make choices that are not influenced by my passions, options, security, relationships with others, fear etc... I am only as free as I am able to detach from these things. Yes, I do think freedom does exist! Anyone that has been on the brink of despair and came back knows this to be true because they discover that their pain lies in the attachment to whatever is causing the distress. All these things are imperfect and they will leave me still wanting. ……for thou hast made us for thyself and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in thee. ~Saint Augustine