In the tradition of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air , Nick Heil recounts the harrowing story of the deadly and controversial 2006 climbing season on Everest. In early May 2006, a young British climber named David Sharp lay dying near the top of Mount Everest while forty other climbers walked past him on their way to the summit. A week later, Lincoln Hall, a seasoned Australian climber, was left for dead near the same spot. Hall's death was reported around the world, but the next day he was found alive after spending the ...
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In the tradition of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air , Nick Heil recounts the harrowing story of the deadly and controversial 2006 climbing season on Everest. In early May 2006, a young British climber named David Sharp lay dying near the top of Mount Everest while forty other climbers walked past him on their way to the summit. A week later, Lincoln Hall, a seasoned Australian climber, was left for dead near the same spot. Hall's death was reported around the world, but the next day he was found alive after spending the night on the upper mountain with no food and no shelter. If David Sharp's death was shocking, it was not singular: despite unusually good weather, ten others died attempting to reach the summit that year. In this meticulous inquiry into what went wrong, Nick Heil tells the full story of the deadliest year on Everest since the infamous season of 1996. He introduces Russell Brice, the outfitter who has done more than anyone to provide access to the summit via the mountain's north side-and who some believe was partially responsible for Sharp's death. As more climbers attempt the summit each year, Heil shows how increasingly risky expeditions and unscrupulous outfitters threaten to turn Everest into a deadly circus. Written by an experienced climber and outdoor writer, Dark Summit is both a riveting account of a notorious climbing season and a troubling investigation into whether the pursuit of the ultimate mountaineering prize has spiralled out of control.
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I got this book assuming it would be a detailed accounting of what the title states. And looking at the table of contents you would assume it was. Part One: David Sharp and Part Two: Lincoln Hall and Thomas Weber. Since I am familiar with the history of Everest and this particular season I was looking for a much more detailed accounting of these climbers stories. But the writer felt it necessary to give a detailed history lesson of the discovery and attempts of climbing Everest and then a detailed review of modern commercial expeditions. David Sharps story doesn't even begin until like page 104.
So if you are not well read on Everest and the year these stories take place then I would recommend this book. But if you already know Mt Everest's history and are aware of how commercial expeditions operate I would say don't bother with this book.