The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
by: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt
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Amazon.com Review:
The Climb is Russian mountaineer Anatoli Boukreev'saccount of the harrowing May 1996 Mount Everest attempt, a tragedythat resulted in the deaths of eight people. The book is alsoBoukreev's rebuttal to accusations from fellow climber and author JonKrakauer, who, in his bestselling memoir, Into Thin Air, suggests that Boukreevforfeited the safety of his clients to achieve his own climbinggoals. Investigative writer and Climb coauthor G. Weston DeWaltuses taped statements from the surviving climbers and translatedinterviews from Boukreev to piece together the events and prove to thereader that Boukreev's role was heroic, not opportunistic. Boukreevrefers to the actions of expedition leader Scott Fischer throughoutthe ascent, implying that factors other than the fierce snowstorm mayhave caused this disaster. This new account sparks debate among bothmountaineers and those who have followed the story through the mediaand Krakauer's book. Readers can decide for themselves whetherBoukreev presents a laudable defense or merely assuages his ownbruised ego.
Product Description:
As the climbers of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster vanished into thin air, one man had the courage to bring them down alive...
On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by expert leaders attempted to scale the world's largest peak. But things went terribly wrong. Crowded conditions, bad judgement, and a bitter storm stopped many climbers in their tracks. Others were left for dead, or stranded on the frigid mountain. Anatoli Boukreev, head climbing guide for the Mountain Madness expedition, stepped into the heart of the storm and brought three of his clients down alive. Here is his amazing story-of an expedition fated for disaster, of the blind ambition that drives people to attempt such dangerous ventures, and of a modern-day hero, who risked his own life to save others..
The Climb is Russian mountaineer Anatoli Boukreev'saccount of the harrowing May 1996 Mount Everest attempt, a tragedythat resulted in the deaths of eight people. The book is alsoBoukreev's rebuttal to accusations from fellow climber and author JonKrakauer, who, in his bestselling memoir, Into Thin Air, suggests that Boukreevforfeited the safety of his clients to achieve his own climbinggoals. Investigative writer and Climb coauthor G. Weston DeWaltuses taped statements from the surviving climbers and translatedinterviews from Boukreev to piece together the events and prove to thereader that Boukreev's role was heroic, not opportunistic. Boukreevrefers to the actions of expedition leader Scott Fischer throughoutthe ascent, implying that factors other than the fierce snowstorm mayhave caused this disaster. This new account sparks debate among bothmountaineers and those who have followed the story through the mediaand Krakauer's book. Readers can decide for themselves whetherBoukreev presents a laudable defense or merely assuages his ownbruised ego.
Product Description:
As the climbers of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster vanished into thin air, one man had the courage to bring them down alive...
On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by expert leaders attempted to scale the world's largest peak. But things went terribly wrong. Crowded conditions, bad judgement, and a bitter storm stopped many climbers in their tracks. Others were left for dead, or stranded on the frigid mountain. Anatoli Boukreev, head climbing guide for the Mountain Madness expedition, stepped into the heart of the storm and brought three of his clients down alive. Here is his amazing story-of an expedition fated for disaster, of the blind ambition that drives people to attempt such dangerous ventures, and of a modern-day hero, who risked his own life to save others..
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Behind the scene of a commercial expedition
This is another story about the infamous climb of Everest that Jon Krackauer made so famous with his book "Into Thin Air".Anatoli Boukreev was one of the strongest climbers of all time, and he wrote this book because he was not happy about what Jon wrote about him. Although he is obviously not as good of a writer as Jon, I enjoyed his book more. His version goes behind the main scene and shows the business end and the intense logistics of a commercial expedition on a big mountain. Anatoli was the ... Read More
Rating: - The other side of the tragedy
In May 1996 there was a devastating climbing accident on Mt. Everest. Many lives were lost. The more popular version by Jon Krakaur is the one most people have heard about or read.But this one by Anatoli Boukreev, I found to be written very well, precise.He gave the facts to straighten the record where Jon Krakaur was to say Anatoli had acted selfishly - Anatoli set the record straight as to where he was and what he was doing. On a mountain of any size, but Mt. Everest to be sure, no one can really ... Read More
Rating: - The other side of the "Thin Air" story
Please see my review of "Into Thin Air" where I discuss the comparison to this account.
Rating: - Bottom Line: The reader ultimately makes the 1996 Everest tragedy call!
I'll attempt to be succinct in this one: It's not just the proverbial "who do you believe" with regard to Jon Krakauer ["Into Thin Air"] and Anatoli Boukreev ["The Climb"] but it also encompasses the whole 1996 Everest tragedy because depending on who you ask or listen to, everyone has their own opinion or, indeed, pro-Krakauer/anti-Boukreev versus anti-Krakauer/pro Boukreev mind-set. And, true enough, all in-between!
Ultimately, and I render public kudos here to Amazon reviewer Tan Kheng ... Read More
Rating: 
- Would've Been Great if It Focused Solely On Boukreev's Description
Parts of book by Anatoli Boukreev or related by Boukreev: 5 stars
*Any point of the story where DeWalt offers his opinion: 1 1/2 stars
*Post Script by DeWalt: 0 stars
The story of Anatoli Boukreev is truly an amazing one, and he rightly deserved any bit of honor placed on him after behaving heroically during the Everest disaster of 1996.His tale is inspirational and a true example of a man who lived to take on the elements of nature, and conquer them.Ultimately, ... Read More
- Behind the scene of a commercial expeditionThis is another story about the infamous climb of Everest that Jon Krackauer made so famous with his book "Into Thin Air".Anatoli Boukreev was one of the strongest climbers of all time, and he wrote this book because he was not happy about what Jon wrote about him. Although he is obviously not as good of a writer as Jon, I enjoyed his book more. His version goes behind the main scene and shows the business end and the intense logistics of a commercial expedition on a big mountain. Anatoli was the ... Read More
- The other side of the tragedyIn May 1996 there was a devastating climbing accident on Mt. Everest. Many lives were lost. The more popular version by Jon Krakaur is the one most people have heard about or read.But this one by Anatoli Boukreev, I found to be written very well, precise.He gave the facts to straighten the record where Jon Krakaur was to say Anatoli had acted selfishly - Anatoli set the record straight as to where he was and what he was doing. On a mountain of any size, but Mt. Everest to be sure, no one can really ... Read More
- The other side of the "Thin Air" storyPlease see my review of "Into Thin Air" where I discuss the comparison to this account.
- Bottom Line: The reader ultimately makes the 1996 Everest tragedy call! I'll attempt to be succinct in this one: It's not just the proverbial "who do you believe" with regard to Jon Krakauer ["Into Thin Air"] and Anatoli Boukreev ["The Climb"] but it also encompasses the whole 1996 Everest tragedy because depending on who you ask or listen to, everyone has their own opinion or, indeed, pro-Krakauer/anti-Boukreev versus anti-Krakauer/pro Boukreev mind-set. And, true enough, all in-between!
Ultimately, and I render public kudos here to Amazon reviewer Tan Kheng ... Read More
- Would've Been Great if It Focused Solely On Boukreev's DescriptionParts of book by Anatoli Boukreev or related by Boukreev: 5 stars
*Any point of the story where DeWalt offers his opinion: 1 1/2 stars
*Post Script by DeWalt: 0 stars
The story of Anatoli Boukreev is truly an amazing one, and he rightly deserved any bit of honor placed on him after behaving heroically during the Everest disaster of 1996.His tale is inspirational and a true example of a man who lived to take on the elements of nature, and conquer them.Ultimately, ... Read More
