The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest by Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
Book Review: Events that happened in May of 1996
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Climb" recounts the events that happened in May of 1996. Three expeditions attempted to climb Mt. Everest on the Southeast Ridge route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay in 1953. Crowded conditions slowed their progress. Late in the day, twenty-three men and women, including expedition leaders Scott Fischer and Rob Hall were caught in a ferocious blizzard. Disoriented and out of oxygen, climbers struggled to find their way down the mountain as darkness approached. Alone and climbing in a whiteout, Anatoli Boukreev brought climbers back from the edge of certain death.Anatoli Boukreev does a great job of describing the events that happened tothe expedition. Boukreev is able to accomplish with vivid imagery. With the use of imagery the reader is able to feel connected to the extreme events that went on during the expedition. Boukreev tone defends his actions during the expedition and explains to other climbers that he did the right thing at theright time. With his use of tone the reader is able to feel and experience the things that happened to him during is expedition. This book is very exciting and fun to read.
Book Review: Everest Must Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I read most of what's written about Mt. Everest and other climbing adventures but I only climb through the adventures of others. While I read "Into Thin Air" when it first came out, I only recently got around to reading Mr. Boukreev's excellent recitation of the tragic events of the '96 spring climbing season events as he experienced them. Mr. Boukreev's recounting of this tragic day in the history of Everest climbing is a great adventure story with many lessons about the realities of high altitude climbing, commercial expeditions, and the variables that come in such an extreame environment. "Into Thin Air" offers one perspective. "The Climb" offers a different perspective written by a participant in the event with an extensive resume of high altitude successes. A narrow-minded person could say that "The Climb" is Messrs. Boukreev and DeWalt writing about the greatness of Mr. Boukreev. To them I'd say "Why not?" Mr. Boukreev has earned his place in high altitude climbing and his actions in the '96 tradegy were nothing but heroic. This is a must read for an adventure reader and certainly for students of Everest climbing. My recommendation is to read both "The Climb" and "Into Thin Air". It's not an "either" "or" type of question. Both are must reads.Book Review: Exciting and honest
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I read The Climb, I had read "Into Thin Air", another account of the same climb by a different climber of another team. It recalls the same tragic event on Mt. Everest. Though I enjoyed that book as well, I enjoyed "The Climb" much more. Less crude, I believe the author told his honest story. Though it is real life it has all the suspense and danger of an academy award winning movie. Read it and I guarantee it will not disappoint you.Book Review: Fills in vital facts that Krakauer (Into Thin Air) leave out
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent book! This book fills in vital facts that for some reason, Krakauer chose to ignore. Boukreev says he freely gave this factual information to Krakauer after the expedition, but Krakauer ignored it and went on to paint a poor picture of Boukreev. This book shows how the best laid plans can go awry. It seems, in my opinion, that Boukreev made the correct life and death decisions that saved many lives. His choice to climb without O2 is reasonably explained: he doesn't want to feel the dramatic slowdown and exhaustion that immediately comes when the O2 is gone. In this fashion, he was able to function effectively and make decisions and save lives. The closing chapters, using Boukreev's own words, are riveting.Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
A little reverse slamage on the ol' Krauker. Great if read along with Into Thin Air and Climbing High.