Dark Summit

The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season

By: Nick Heil

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

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 spiraled out of control.

©2008 Nick Heil (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Here is humanity itself, personified in exemplary fashion by Nick Heil, addressing the Everest culture's lack of compassion and coming up with the right answers." (Bob Shacochis, author of The Immaculate Invasion)
Through rock-solid reporting and vital prose, Heil leads us up into this rarefied world, step by hypoxic step." (Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers)

Great adventure!

I've always been drawn to stories of Everest and this one drew me in right away. This book covers the controversy of 2006 although as the author points out at the end it should not have been a controversy. News flash Everest is a very dangerous place. Trying to pin the blame on Russell Brice seems misplaced. Great book, great voice reading!

Profound

This book was enthralling, and the story was extremely powerful to me. This book put you into the mind of people making simple decisions that would affect themselves and others in ways that they could have never imagined. This is an amazing partner to into thin air.

Fascinating

Ever since reading John Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” stories of the bravery, folly and tragedy of climbers attempting to summit Mt Everest have mesmerized me. Writer Nick Heil does an excellent job describing the disasters of the 2006 climbing season and the subsequent examination of the moral questions that arise only at the extreme altitude of Everest’s so-called Death Zone. Great read, well narrated by David Drummond.

Highly recommend this book

This is an excellent book for anyone who likes survival and adventure books. Great narrative and mostly easy to follow along. I mostly do some research to identify certain names.

Great book

Great detail the narrAtor was easy to listen to
As a non fiction. Book offered a neutral and detailed perspective

GRAVEYARD on the Roof of the World

Would you listen to Dark Summit again? Why?

No I would not, it is to sad!

Any additional comments?

Having wintered over in Antarctica in 1990 with a military expedition for 13 months on the ice, I can relate to the cold temperatures these climbers endured and died in. However, I cannot even begin to imagine the oxygen problems of high altitude existence. This book is not a glory bound testament to those you have conquered the mountain elements but a sad story of those you failed in their attempts to achieve something that really means nothing in the end. In 2012 the graveyard expanded another 12 bodies with a total of 200 to-date and the the crowd will be waiting in 2013 to make their bid for the roof, we can only hope that no matter how far they ascend they make it to the basement in the end. "making it to the top is optional, making it back down is mandatory".

A high-peak adventure

If you could sum up Dark Summit in three words, what would they be?

Tense. Terrifying. True

Who was your favorite character and why?

Actually, all of the characters--there were man--were compelling.

What about David Drummond’s performance did you like?

Excellent timber in his voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me even more terrified of heights!

An exploration of mortality

What did you love best about Dark Summit?

The frank discussion of the relative ease that humans can expire

Which scene was your favorite?

The preserve nice of Hall when everyone else thought he was dead.

A new genre

Getting addicted to a new genre of books. This gives a great history of the top accomplishments on Everest and some of the grim tales and warnings of the mountain.

Great Review-

Everest- if your a fan, this one is a good non-biased account of the true events as they unfold- with plenty of backstory & history thrown in.