The famous glider pilot Jochen von Kalckreuth not only describes his silent flights over the Alps and his solitary hours between firn and endless horizons, but in this volume, he also conveys fundamental and still valid techniques that are essential for glider pilots in this beautiful yet harsh environment. In captivating narratives and precise reports, he documents his flying development from his first training flight to his record, the longest thermal flight in the world. The book remains one of the absolute classics of gliding literature.