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The Climb cover art

The Climb

By: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt
Narrated by: Lloyd James
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Summary

The Climb is a true, gripping, and thought-provoking account of the worst disaster in the history of Mt. Everest: On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by experienced leaders attempted to climb the highest mountain in the world, but things went terribly wrong. Crowded conditions on the mountain, miscommunications, unexplainable delays, poor leadership, bad decisions, and a blinding storm conspired to kill. Twenty-three men and women, disoriented and out of oxygen, struggled to find their way down the southern side of the mountain. In the dark, battered by snow driven by hurricane-force winds, some of the climbers became hopelessly lost and resigned themselves to death. Anatoli Boukreev, the head climbing guide for the West Seattle-based Mountain Madness expedition, refused to give up hope. Solo, climbing blind in the maw of a storm that continually threatened his life, Boukreev brought climbers back from the edge of certain death.
©1997 by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Climb

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Climb

This is one of the most gripping stories i have heard or read.
I first read the book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer of how this tragedy happeded, once finished i felt that the russian climber Anatoli Bourkreev seemed to not have done is job properly and was possibly to blame for a number of the eight deaths that happened that day. The worst day in Everest history. so when i found that The Climb had been written I had to know more. I am glad that i did, I belive that the climb gives a much more balanced account of what happed. Anatoli Bourkreev was an incredbly brave and strong man. There are a number of witness reports in the story to prove this, whilst Krakauers book is based on assumptions and his thoughts of what happened, Bourkreev had even helped him durring those terrible few hours He seems to have a real axe to grind. Why not listen to both and see what you think.

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19 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Absolutely amazing story very well read by the narrator. I'm very sad to hear that Anatoli Boukreev lost his life about a year after this book was written. He was a very brave and talented climber. I have listened to many books and this is in my top 5 easily. It's 1 of those books you can't stop thinking about for weeks after.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • 06-12-15

A real insight into the lead up of a tragic disast

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very factual, but grippingly told account of the 1996 Everest Disaster from the perspective of Anatoli Boukreev

Any additional comments?

Boukreev's account of the 1996 Everest Disaster start's long before Everest itself ever comes into view and gives some fascinating insights into commercial mountaineering and the organisation that goes into expeditions such as that to Everest. Boukreev's book doesn't dwell on the history of the mountain but gives a full account of events from his perspective without trying to second-guess the actions of others. Intelligently and emotionally told, one gets a sense of the perfect storm of circumstances that led to the disaster and differing ways in which people responded. Only disappointment was that there was no afterword from friends or family following Boukreev's untimely death, leaving his story feeling like it lacked a final chapter.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

A fascinating Insight

I have a lot of time for the late Anatloi Boukreev, and was fascinated by the insight that this Boukreev-DeWalt partnership gave to the infamous 1996 Everest incident. Jon Krakauer's knee-jerk warts-and-all ego-massage has never rested well with the mountaineering community, but is so well written that it became an instant classic that has dominated public perception of the incident.

Bias drips from Krakauer's tome. Alternative accounts have always been vital, and perhaps no more so than in this case.

This book lacks literary verve. But, stripped from linguistic junk, it's an honest and fascinating insight that allows an important voice to emerge. The Climb is not well written. It's not particularly well read. But it is a must-read.

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3 people found this helpful

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Must read!!

Excellent telling of the 96 disaster. Boukreev = an unsung hero. Get this and not “Into Thin Air”!!

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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic account of events and of the Man

I’ve read in to thin air which I thought was ok but this for me is a way better book.

Much more balanced view which I am sure comes from the fact that there was no real agenda to produce a sensationalised version of events for an article or to try and write a best seller.

Just a humble account of what actually happened from the point of view of the only persons lucid enough at the time to be able to accurately recount the events.

Highly recommended.

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    5 out of 5 stars

a great read

Great book but the long pauses were a little annoying. I would still recommended though.

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Gripping

I really appreciated this book because Anatoli got a lot of blame during the horrific episodes on Everest 96. Because of poor leadership of Hall and Fischer Boukreev was blamed as the Russian villan. I am glad that he was able to co-write this book before he died.

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The story from the Scott Fischer expedition angle

If you're interested in the 1996 Everest disaster, as it's known, you'd do well to check out Boukreev's version, not just Krakauer's account. I actually have not read that one yet but I have it lined up. I wish I could find the other versions survivors of the tragedy have published (I mean on audible), not because I enjoy finger pointing but to get a broader feel about the people who are or were part of this phase of modern mountaineering.

Whatever you believe the reasons were behind this event, it's always good to hear several sides. This rendition of Boukreev's opinion gives you a clear, straightforward timeline of the events as he experienced them, as well as a brief description of the Indonesian expedition to the summit he lead in 1997, in which he clearly wanted to improve upon the client selection, organisation and communication problems he encountered with the Fischer led expedition.

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Good response to Jon Krakaue 1996 Everest Tragedy

Fascinating Insight into the tragic 1986 Everest season, told by Anatoli Boukreev. May he rest in peace.

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