Mountains in the Bible are places ofdramatic encounter with God. Noah on Ararat, Moses cm Sinai, Elijah on Carmel and the disciples with Jesus on the mountain or transfiguration are just some or the lire-changing mountain-top experiences recorded in Scripture, while the goal of our fulfilment in Christ is expressed in the biblical longing for Mount Zion - the centre of God's kingdom and eternal rule. But as every climber knows, each mountain is different and presents its own unique challenge. 'Net)/ expedition is thrilling, terrifying, leisurely and impossibly difficult by turn, and the rewards of reaching the summit outshine all the discomforts and dangers endured. So it is in our Christian pilgrimage. %he Prayer Mountain is a practical handbook to the mountain ranges of the spiritual life. It takes us on a climbing tour of ten Biblical mountains and, with the companionship of those who have climbed them before, encourages us in our own ascent towards the presence of God. Brother Ramon ssf is an Anglican Franciscan friar and one of today's most popular writers on spirituality. For almost ten years, he has lived the hermit life, latterly in the grounds of Glasshampton monastery near Worcester His .many other books include Franciscan Spirituality, The Wisdom of St Francis, The Listening Heart and The Heart of Prayer.