In his teens, Ron Tagliapietra's favorite books were Kon-Tiki and Hillary at Everest. These led him to adventures of his own such as skydiving in Arizona, spelunking in Illinois Caverns, rafting the Chattooga River, and snorkeling in Hawaii. His favorite climbs are Mt. Rainier in Washington, Longs Peak in Colorado, Mt. Lyell in California, and Mt. Th ielsen in Oregon. He holds a doctorate in Education and has written many books including guidebooks to waterfalls, Waterfalls of the States, and to the highest mountains in the Southeast, The Southern Sixers. He has recently released a book of twelve extraordinary survival stories entitled: Extreme Survival.