The Climb Audiobook By Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt cover art

The Climb

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The Climb

By: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt
Narrated by: Lloyd James
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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 Outdoors & Nature Sports Travel Writing & Commentary Adventure Extreme Sports
Heroic Rescue Efforts • Factual Account • Straightforward Approach • Alternative Perspective • Compelling Survival Story
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I read John Krakauer’s Into Thin Air before and felt that his portrayal of Boukreev was unjust. This is a critical read to better understand the full picture of a very complex situation in an incredibly difficult and dangerous place. In my eyes, Boukreev was a hero.

Boukreev was true hero on Everest. You will appreciate this through this account.

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This book is a great mountaineering classic. It shares Anatoli's true story of what happened on Everest in 1996, unlike other stories that have surfaced (like Into Thin Air). It is honnest, and it helps understand what happened without blaming anybody and staying humble (once again, unlike Into Thin Air).

A classic

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Interesting and entertaining, I've listened twice now. Must read to get full perspective of 1996 disaster. Much more believable account than that of 'Into Thin Air.' Boukreev should be remembered as a hero.

Must Read!

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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 !

Must read to understand 1996 Everest disaster.

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

Go ahead and listen to it!

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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.

A must read after into thin air

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

The Climb

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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, So-So narrator

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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!

Great Story, I really appreciate Boukreev a lot more now

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

Better than “Into Thin Air”

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