My personal favorites are Reinhold Messner's accounts of his ground-breaking solo ascents of Nanga Parbat and Everest, in 1978 and 1980 respectively:
Solo Nanga Parbat The Crystal Horizon We have a very similar taste - both are my favorites by Messner. I met the man on his book tour/slide show for the Chrystal Horizon book - live in person, he was even more mesmerizing, so much so that 30 years later I am still going into the mountains.
