The Climb

By: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

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

Doesn't Compare to "Into Thin Air"

I read "The Climb" to get a different perspective after reading Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air". I was very disappointed by the lack of context and detail given in the book. It's a very straightforward narrative from the perspective of Anatoli Boukreev, but it doesn't do anything to elaborate on his experience, the experiences of the other climbers, or provide any explanation for why people acted the way they did. The narration was quite monotone and boring, which certainly didn't help the story. I don't think it's merely that it was boring because I already knew what happened either. I've read multiple books covering the same event before and often found things to appreciate about the different narratives and perspectives. But overall "The Climb" is quite lackluster. If you're looking for a compelling story about the '96 Everest disaster, look elsewhere.

Bedtime Story

This is a great account of this event but so much like a textbook, and the narrator's quiet monotone will lull you to sleep.

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 !

Go ahead and listen to it!

I also read Into Thin Air by John Krakauer. This is a great companion to that book, as others have said. Enjoyable listen.

A must read after into thin air

A good book which helps fully explain what occurred during the 96 Everest disaster. I found it to be a version much closer to the truth than krakauer’s book.

The Climb

This is a heroic and heartbreaking read. This book is a must for the adventure quiver.

Great Story, So-So narrator

I loved the perspective of Anatoli, but the Narrator's voice was not my favorite, it was so monotone that sometimes it was hard to focus on the story.

Great Story, I really appreciate Boukreev a lot more now

Overall, I really enjoyed “The Climb.” I think Boukreev’s perspective on the 1996 Everest climbing season really helped fleshed out the story told in John Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air.”

I have a much deeper appreciation for both the heroic efforts of Boukreev’s actions on that mountain and for Boukreev as a mountaineer in general. When I read “Into Thin Air,” I, like Krakauer, questioned why Boukreev did not use supplemental oxygen in 1996, especially as a guide. With this book, I’ve attained a clarity about Boukreev’s strength and endurance. Truly more than any other climber on the mountain that year, he was the most acclimatized. He was at least the most prepared climber between the Mountain Madness and Adventure Consultants groups, anyway.

Regarding the audio performance, I think it was good, but it could have been better. The editing left occasional gaps of silence (that sometimes had me wondering if the Audible app had crashed). Additionally, Lloyd James did not pronounce every name correctly. I think it’s pretty important as a narrator to verify the pronunciation of everyone’s names in a nonfiction story. For example, James mispronounced Yasuko Namba’s name throughout the book as “yah-SOO-koh.” Her name is actually pronounced “YAS-koh,” with the middle “u” being barely heard.

The story was compelling. I think while “Into Thin Air” focused more on the Adventure Consultants group, this book told more of the story of the Mountain Madness expedition. I would recommend reading “Into Thin Air” first, because Krakauer’s book outlines the technical and geographic aspects of the Everest climb more clearly. Reading “The Climb,” I felt like it was assumed the reader had more background information about the Himalaya and mountaineering themselves.

Overall, I highly recommend this book!

Better than “Into Thin Air”

Great read! This is seems like a more objective depiction of events compared to Into Thin Air.

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!