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The Climb  By  cover art

The Climb

By: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt
Narrated by: Lloyd James
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Publisher's 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

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Counterpoint to

I have read both "The Climb" and "Into Thin Air". To really appreciate the disaster and heroics of 1996 on Mt. Everest you must read both books.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read to understand 1996 Everest disaster.

Following the 1996 Everest story,reading the book from John Krakauer "Into thin air" this book "The Climb" is must to read as follow up to complete the story with Anatoli witness of situation at Everest that year.With hearing the story from other side as well ,then just from John Krakauer ,who was client at other expedition, from person who was one of the main character of the Scott Fisher expedition ,from Anatoli Boukreev.This book is certainly must to read ,for anyone who is interested to know more details and information about 1996 Everest disaster . In my opinion ,following the story,Anatoli was very strong man ,physically or mentally.He was hero,who was willing to risk his life and did everything he could ,to help those other stranded climbers ,from his and other team as well ,at that big high mountain that day.
Hope he rest in peace !

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So Interesting, I listened twice.

I am; I admit; one of those armchair climbers. With neither the ability nor the means to ever climb anything more than a hill, I have been long fascinated by climbers, what motivates them? What leads to success? Why do they do it? After reading many books on Everest, I had been lead to wondering even "should we?"
I had read Into Thin Air more than once, and wanted another view of the story. Anatoli Boukreev, deeply respected climber takes us there in this fascintaing other view of the fateful climb of 1996.
This book is a must read if you've read Into Thin Air. This is a wonderfully written, wonderfully read account. I was so intrigued that I listened twice, to better understand the quietly stated things. Boukreev rarely points fingers, but he does defend the actions of some, including himself, who have been criticised. He does it by explaining conditions, "mountain thinking" and sometimes by shining a light into dark corners.
I concluded by thinking what a wonderful man Anatoli Boukreev must have been. And he even brought me around to an understanding of the oxygen /no oxygen debate.
The narration was great. Narrated well (a couple of slight mistakes ...but I blame the editing for those, they were mis speaks ) . The narrator gets out of the way, and allows the story to open up. One of the best buys in a long while.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good but a little stale

This book does a great job presenting the facts, but it's more of detailed listing of actions rather then an description of the experience. It depends on what you're looking for. If you want the black and white facts this book is for you. If you're looking for an adventure novel you'll be disappointed.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you REALLY want to know what happend, read this book!

I've read Krakouer's book and after his I read this one on the same subject. I thought I had got it rather ok firstly but some stuff didn't sound logical to me. It did'nt add up. After reading this book I actually got it. Things made more sense. Boukareev, a true hero, shares his own words on what happend during the disaster 1996 and also describes what a sorry circus climbing mount Everest now has become. This brave man should be heared. I wish there were more genuine climbers out there with both the right intentions and true a heart, like Boukareev. May he now rest in peace!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not the best of the stories

I had read "into Thin Air" and wanted to know more about the climb described in that book. Simply, this book is not as interesting. Not horrible, but just not the best of the choices

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Over the Top

Sorry, but the author's fascination with detail became annoying to me after a couple of hours. I learned more about facts than I did about feelings, and if you're after that then this is the book for you. Not my thing.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting Account

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

This is a riveting, heartrending account of the Everst disaster. It discusses the many factors that led to the final outcome on the mountain for the ill-fated expeditions, and does so from the pespective of one of those involved. Moreover, Boukreev was at the time one of the best mountaineers in the world - so good that he had repeatedly summited Everest without supplemental oxygen. He understood the mountain and the conditions, as well as his own strengths and limitations, and his account is informed by his intimate understanding of the rigors and challenges of extreme high-altitude mountaineering.

This account is, in my opinion, far superior to Krakauer's ("Into This Air"), which comes off as being self-serving and a bit whiny. Even before I read "The Climb", I was dissatisfied with Krakauer's account; there was something in it that rang false to me (this was part of the reason I sought out another account). He seems to have had a vendetta about Boukreev, but it should be noted that Boukreev repeatedly risked his own life to go out and search for descending mountaineers in trouble, and Krakauer did not. Krakauer contended that he was just too exhausted and that he might end up as someone else in need of rescue, instead of being of assistance. This is a valid point, and I take no issue with that. However, the fact that Boukreev a) was NOT too exhausted to try, and b) had the courage and selflessness to do so, renders Krakauer's complaints and apersions (if not outright attacks) against Boukreev all the more craven.

Very much worth the listen.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than Into Thin Air

This book provides an alternative look into the tragedy on Mount Everest. The author, an experienced mountaineer and guide who was accustomed to climbing without oxygen, was perhaps in shape of all to tell the story of that ill fated day. Apart from the story of the tragedy and heroism of the author, the reader can gain some appreciation for the enormous challenges of high altitude climbing.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written stort of strong ang humble man.

Loved it! Finished it in a day. Breathtaking adventure story of an outstanding montclimber. Sadly Into thin air is way more popular.

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3 people found this helpful