Getting High

By: Bill Walker

Narrated by: Bill Walker

Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

What is the best way for the average person to authentically experience the world's greatest mountain range - the Himalayas? Fortunately, there is now a good answer. The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is the most popular footpath in Asia. Its genius lies in its design. Trekkers wind their way around and along some of the world's greatest peaks, ultimately getting near 18,000 feet, without ever having to do any 'technical climbing'. This Circuit is widely considered one of the world's great treks, and mortals from all around the world are coming to Nepal for the unique chance to 'get high'. Bill Walker ('Skywalker') struggled his way through the Annapurna Circuit in 2012. He has written this entertaining tale of his journey in this land of Sherpas, cold, altitude, and rushing water.

©2013 Bill Walker (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Hearing it made me feel like I was there.

What made the experience of listening to Getting High the most enjoyable?

It was an easy and compelling listen, held my attention, and had a quality of tolerance and appreciation for the place and people. And, the author has a great sense of humor.

What did you like best about this story?

It made the trek come alive and made me want to go and do it myself.

What about Bill Walker’s performance did you like?

His style of reading was expressive and easy to keep on listening to, and.had a nice liveliness to it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Great book. I would highly recommend it, especially to anyone who likes to hike!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Beware if you have weak stomach

I love Skywalkers books and hope he does the continental divide trail so I can read about it.

HOWEVER the audiobook is extremely difficult to listen to. Bill has an extremely wet mouth and you can hear copious amounts of saliva spewing and bubbling in his mouth. I just wanted to tell him to swallow or wipe his mouth. And to avoid so many words starting with P. I can't be the only one who is disturbed by this.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

We both enjoyed

A great way to enjoy the Annapurna Circuit. I really appreciate Skywalker and his narrative abilities. Thanks

true and captivating

As a Nepali man, I find Bill's account of travel in Annapurna circuit and ABC to be true and captivating. I liked listening about his perception of Nepal and Nepali as a foreigner to the mountainous way of life. I would recommend travellers to ask (or demand in writing) their trekking company about how much is being paid to their giudes and porters. Unfortunately, guides and porters get underpaid all the time, which doesn't work well for the tourists paying high prices and the workers who have to put in blood and sweat to keep the tourists safe and satisfied. Also, please book your guides in advance. I believe there is a law now stipulating that all foreigners in Nepal should have a company helping them so they don't get into trouble. In any case, it was fun to hear Bill's experience. Keep up the good work.

Annapurna trekking from a non mountaineer

A good story about Annapurna and Nepal from someone who is not there to climb the mountains, but to walk the trails.

Another great book by Skywalker

Read Bills PCT book, had to check this one out too. I enjoy how he writes and his reading is very formal which appeals to me. He provides the right sense of emotion since he actually experienced the book. Will by each of his other books and enjoy. I wish I had the time and money to follow his trekking lead.

Another great listen

I greatly enjoyed sharing Skywalker's adventures in this and his other books. He has a great style and sense of humor, and shows an engaging humility. Sounds like Bill Moyers😀

A must read.

I feel as though I am side by side with Bill Walker on this adventure!

A fun adventure!

This is my third Bill Walker book. My favorite is Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail. I had a lot of fun listening to that particular book but I am also partial to stories about the PCT. I also really liked Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail. I really enjoyed this book too and due to the nature of where it was, it was quite different from the first two books. While I have read many books on mountain climbing in Nepal, this is my first book about The Annapurna Circuit. I found it interesting the experiences Bill had, particularly since he really wasn't well planned out when he went to Nepal. I'm not quite as adventurous, I'd have hired guides but that's why I read Bill's books. He is a great storyteller and he doesn't take himself too seriously. If you like outdoor adventure narratives you will surely enjoy this one. I will definitely be getting his book about El Camino de Santiago next. I hope Bill will embark on an adventure to climb Kilamanjaro.

Really enjoyed this

What made the experience of listening to Getting High the most enjoyable?

As an amateur adventurer I love being able to learn and experience other people's adventures. This has been on my bucket list and I will do it after reading the book. I did Everest base camp so I could compare routes, stories, etc.

What did you like best about this story?

His totally amateur perspective!

1 of 2 people found this review helpful