Nicholas Clinch is a mountaineering bibliophile, and the former executive director of the Sierra Club Foundation and past president of the American Alpine Club. He organized and led Himalayan expeditions and in 1958 led the first successful expedition to Gasherbrum I, America's only first ascent of an 8000m peak. He also led teams making the first ascents of Masherbrum in 1960, and Mount Vinson in Antarctica in 1967.
