Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

‘Below Zero’ Book Review: Behold the Beauty of Life Lived in the Cold

Depending on your perspective, the pictures you’ll find in Below Zero: Adventures Out in the Cold will fill your heart with yearning or make you recoil. Of the 255 pages in this gorgeous new coffeetable-sized book from Gestalten, the majority are filled with full color pictures dominated largely by shades of but two colors: white and blue. This is a book filled with photography, essays, and reflections by and about those intrepid souls who spend much of their lives in the parts of our globe where snow and ice hold sway. Though perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Below Zero book is about these beautiful but savage places themselves; the people serve as focalizers, not as the focus.

Related:

I certainly understand if seeing an endless tableau of frigid tundra in which a few lonely human beings are all but lost among the miles of snowdrifts looks like a mild version of hell to your eyes. To me, it’s the opposite. Save for the few pages dedicated to swimming in frigid waters sans wet or dry suit, an activity that does indeed look to me like hell on earth (the section “Submerged in Ice Swimming’s Glacial Waters” starts on page 68 if you want to cut to the chase), almost every image I see and every word I read of this book makes me long for the frosty nip of winter-chilled breezes, the crunch of snow under boot, and the hours dedicated to slow, steady travel through a frozen wonderland.But that’s me — I like the cold, ideally when delivered via mountain. However, the great thing about a book is that it offers you some experience of a given place, person, or activity from the comfort of your own living room. (In case you didn’t know that about books …)

As usual with the books from Berlin’s celebrated Gestalten publishing house, you can approach Below Zero in a few ways. The first thing most people will do, myself very much included, is look at the pictures. I recommend you start with the first page and flip slowly and steadily through the whole thing, as even the least arresting photos in the book are striking in their own way. (Not every picture is of a team of mountaineers trekking across a massive glacier or of motorcycle racers competing in an alpine snow race; some are of people clearing snow from their driveways or of postmen delivering mail in a blizzard.)

You can also set out to read the book from cover to cover, but frankly, this is probably the wrong course for many readers. While all of the writing in the book is competent, not all of the subject matter is likely to appeal to all readers. Once you have seen all the pictures, I recommend flipping through and reading the sections that truly interest you. As a hiker, camper, and occasional mountaineer, I zeroed in on the the pages under the heading “Treading New and Yet Unspoiled Hiking Paths” (page 166 through 177, FYI) and was filled with about equal parts of awe and envy. As for images of figure skaters dancing atop massive frozen lakes and the accompanying essay? Well, to me that’s a pass, but maybe that’s what you’re in to.

As with other Gestalten coffee-table, art/essay books, the layout here is a bit hard to follow. The index lists a blend of places, writers, and photographers by alphabetical order, but it does not give the names or subject matter of the content. In other words, if you want to figure out what this book has to offer, you need to spend some time and go exploring. But, of course, the metaphor in that isn’t lost on anyone.

Why Cotopaxi has become my favorite outdoor clothing brand
From bags to jackets, Cotopaxi has you covered with colorful, chic, and unique styles
Guy wearing cotopaxi.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a new outdoor clothing brand that was just beginning to create something of a buzz. It had a travel bag that was gaining a lot of popularity among the digital nomad community, its clothing lineup was expanding and getting more and more attention, and its products were eco-friendly to boot. So I went ahead and ordered my first item from Cotopaxi — and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.

Let’s take a look at why Cotopaxi has quickly emerged as one of the best outdoor clothing brands.

Read more
What’s still to come in the Snowboard World Cup? All dates and venues
High speed snowboarding, huge tricks, and podium places still up for grabs: Check out the FIS World Cup
Slopestyle course at olympics.

We're well over halfway through the Snowboarding World Cup season already, but if you've not managed to catch any of the events yet, don't panic, there's still plenty to come. The U.S. is currently leading the way in both men's and women's slopestyle and providing stiff competition in the boardercross — among other events. With so much still at stake, there has never been a better time to get into the Snowboarding World Cup.

The FIS — responsible, among other things, for skiing safety rules and regulations — put on a skiing and snowboarding world cup each season, bringing elite competitors from around the world together to compete for glory. Stages around the world host race events like giant slalom, parallel, and boardercross, alongside freestyle-oriented snowboarding competitions like halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air. Here's what's still to come this season and how you can catch all the action.

Read more
This might just be the ultimate backcountry skiing and camping experience
Spend three days ski touring and two nights under the stars with Mountain Trip
backcountry skiing camp in colorado debuts telluride helitrax brett schreckengost 3

With the number of skiers hitting up ski resorts the world over, your opportunity to catch fresh tracks on a powder day might be at risk. Sure, the locals know the hotspots, but it only takes one errant Instagram post before everyone descends on your secret stash — careless talk costs lines. Nowadays, the only way to truly guarantee perfect powder and long ripping runs is through sheer bodily effort. That's right, it's time to earn your turns.

This winter, The Bridal Veil Backcountry Ski Camp from Mountain Trip has taken the concept of backcountry adventure and added in a new element; winter camping — or glamping, depending on your view. Sure, there is a time and a place for the traditional five a.m. roadside start, pulling on stiff boots, and frigid gloves, before setting off into the beam of your headlamp, but if you want to truly experience the backcountry in all its majesty, then this is the trip for you.

Read more