Big Walls offers a unique view into a world of extraordinary high adventure, in which fiercely driven climbers scale the highest and most beautiful rock faces on the planet. In this book, renowned climber Paul Piana vividly recounts his and longtime climbing partner Todd Skinner"s revolutionary first free-climbing ascents of the four premier rock faces of North America: El Capitan"s Salathe Wall, the Direct North West Face of Half Dome, Wyoming"s Mount Hooker, and the Great Canadian Knife. Demanding remarkable inner confidence and instincts honed over many years, these free-climbing ascents were accomplished using nothing more than the climbers" own strength and determination. Illustrated with 93 spectacular color photographs of these harrowing ascents, Piana"s compelling narrative evokes the dramatic highs and challenging lows of their many adventures, from the heartstopping fall off El Capitan that broke Skinner"s ribs and snapped Piana"s leg in five places, to their euphoric arrival on the summit of Mount Proboscis. Filled with exciting detail that will appeal to mountaineering enthusiasts everywhere, Big Walls is a fascinating account of four supremely challenging climbs that are truly worthy of the term historic.