
The Darkest White
A Mountain Legend and the Avalanche That Took Him
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $25.19
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Dan Bittner
-
By:
-
Eric Blehm
About this listen
“Eric Blehm offers an insightful perspective on how Craig Kelly became the effortless icon that we all revered as well as sobering details of how his heroic journey tragically ended. The Darkest White is a must read, not just for fans of snowboarding, but for anyone looking for inspiration from an unlikely hero.”—Tony Hawk
From Eric Blehm, the bestselling author of The Last Season and Fearless, comes an extraordinary new book in the vein of Into the Wild, the story of the legendary snowboarder Craig Kelly and his death in the 2003 Durrand Glacier Avalanche—a devastating and controversial tragedy that claimed the lives of seven people.
On January 20, 2003, a thunderous crack rang out and a 100-foot-wide tide of snow barreled down the Northern Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. More than a dozen skiers and snowboarders were thrust down the mountain, buried beneath several tons of rock-hard snow and ice in the Durrand Glacier Avalanche. A heroic search and rescue ensued. Among those buried was Craig Kelly—“the Michael Jordan of snowboarding”—a man who had propelled the sport into the mainstream before walking away from competitions, to rekindle his passion in the untamed alpine wilds of North America
The Darkest White is the story of Craig Kelly’s life, a heartbreaking but extraordinary and inspiring odyssey of a latchkey kid whose athletic prowess and innovations would revolutionize winter sports, take him around the globe, and push him into ever more extreme environments that would ultimately take his life. It is also a definitive, immersive account of snowboarding and the cultural movement that exploded around it, growing the sport from minor Gen X cult hobby to Olympic centerpiece and a billion-dollar business full of feuds and rivalries. Finally, The Darkest White is a mesmerizing, cautionary portrait of the mountains, of the allure and the glory they offer, and of the avalanches they unleash with unforgiving fury.
“Eric Blehm took on this biography as I imagine Craig Kelly took on the halfpipe. He studied it, chose his line, and pulled everything off—even tough parts—with grace and style. It’s not just a terrific story of an amazing life, not just the origin story of an entire sport, but a riveting disaster narrative that builds tension masterfully. The Darkest White grabbed me and didn’t let go."—Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List series
©2024 Eric Blehm (P)2024 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Art of Shralpinism
- Lessons from the Mountains
- By: Jeremy Jones
- Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, The Art of Shralpinism reflects the remarkable journey of snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones. Drawing on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, Jones offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti.
-
-
A must for any snowboarder
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-23
By: Jeremy Jones
-
Everest, Inc.
- The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World
- By: Will Cockrell
- Narrated by: Pete Simonelli
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Anyone who has heard of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air or has seen a recent photo of climbers standing in line to get to the top of Everest may think they have a sense of what the world’s highest mountain is like. It’s an extreme landscape where bad weather and incredible altitude can kill; an overcrowded, trashed-out recreation destination; and a place where the rich exploit local Sherpas while padding their egos—and social media feeds.
-
-
Only if you are an avid mountaineer
- By Love books on 05-04-24
By: Will Cockrell
-
The Last Season
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada - mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
-
-
Well Written Character Study of an NPS Ranger
- By Kathy in CA on 06-23-16
By: Eric Blehm
-
Legend
- A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Legend, acclaimed best-selling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A 12-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia - where US forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
-
-
awesome
- By Jacob on 11-13-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
No Way Down
- Life and Death on K2
- By: Graham Bowley
- Narrated by: Sam Breen
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the tradition of Into Thin Air and Touching the Void, No Way Down by New York Times reporter Graham Bowley is the harrowing account of the worst mountain climbing disaster on K2, second to Everest in height . . . but second to no peak in terms of danger. From tragic deaths to unbelievable stories of heroism and survival, No Way Down is an amazing feat of storytelling and adventure writing, and, in the words of explorer and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes, "the closest you can come to being on the summit of K2 on that fateful day."
-
-
Why do they risk climbing K2?
- By NDR47 on 04-16-25
By: Graham Bowley
-
Life Lived Wild
- Adventures at the Edge of the Map (Patagonia)
- By: Rick Ridgeway
- Narrated by: Rick Ridgeway
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the beginning of his memoir Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map, Rick Ridgeway tells us that if you add up all his many expeditions, he’s spent over five years of his life sleeping in tents: “And most of that in small tents pitched in the world’s most remote regions.” It’s not a boast so much as an explanation. Whether at elevation or raising a family back at sea level, those years taught him, he writes, “to distinguish matters of consequence from matters of inconsequence.” He leaves it to his listeners to do the final sort of which is which.
-
-
The hypocrisy and boasting ego. Blood boiling.
- By Amazon Customer on 12-30-21
By: Rick Ridgeway
-
The Art of Shralpinism
- Lessons from the Mountains
- By: Jeremy Jones
- Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, The Art of Shralpinism reflects the remarkable journey of snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones. Drawing on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, Jones offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti.
-
-
A must for any snowboarder
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-23
By: Jeremy Jones
-
Everest, Inc.
- The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World
- By: Will Cockrell
- Narrated by: Pete Simonelli
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Anyone who has heard of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air or has seen a recent photo of climbers standing in line to get to the top of Everest may think they have a sense of what the world’s highest mountain is like. It’s an extreme landscape where bad weather and incredible altitude can kill; an overcrowded, trashed-out recreation destination; and a place where the rich exploit local Sherpas while padding their egos—and social media feeds.
-
-
Only if you are an avid mountaineer
- By Love books on 05-04-24
By: Will Cockrell
-
The Last Season
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada - mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
-
-
Well Written Character Study of an NPS Ranger
- By Kathy in CA on 06-23-16
By: Eric Blehm
-
Legend
- A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Legend, acclaimed best-selling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A 12-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia - where US forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
-
-
awesome
- By Jacob on 11-13-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
No Way Down
- Life and Death on K2
- By: Graham Bowley
- Narrated by: Sam Breen
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the tradition of Into Thin Air and Touching the Void, No Way Down by New York Times reporter Graham Bowley is the harrowing account of the worst mountain climbing disaster on K2, second to Everest in height . . . but second to no peak in terms of danger. From tragic deaths to unbelievable stories of heroism and survival, No Way Down is an amazing feat of storytelling and adventure writing, and, in the words of explorer and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes, "the closest you can come to being on the summit of K2 on that fateful day."
-
-
Why do they risk climbing K2?
- By NDR47 on 04-16-25
By: Graham Bowley
-
Life Lived Wild
- Adventures at the Edge of the Map (Patagonia)
- By: Rick Ridgeway
- Narrated by: Rick Ridgeway
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the beginning of his memoir Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map, Rick Ridgeway tells us that if you add up all his many expeditions, he’s spent over five years of his life sleeping in tents: “And most of that in small tents pitched in the world’s most remote regions.” It’s not a boast so much as an explanation. Whether at elevation or raising a family back at sea level, those years taught him, he writes, “to distinguish matters of consequence from matters of inconsequence.” He leaves it to his listeners to do the final sort of which is which.
-
-
The hypocrisy and boasting ego. Blood boiling.
- By Amazon Customer on 12-30-21
By: Rick Ridgeway
-
Powder Days
- Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow
- By: Heather Hansman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Veteran ski journalist and former ski bum Heather Hansman takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into the hidden history of American skiing, offering a glimpse into an underexplored subculture from the perspective of a true insider. Hopping from Vermont to Colorado, Montana to West Virginia, Hansman profiles the people who have built their lives around a cold-weather obsession. Along the way she reckons with skiing's problematic elements and investigates how the sport is evolving in the face of the existential threat of climate change.
-
-
The Ski Bum will Never Die!
- By Stephen watson on 12-13-21
By: Heather Hansman
-
Beyond the Mountain
- By: Steve House, Reinhold Messner - foreword
- Narrated by: Steve House
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it take to be one of the world's best high-altitude mountain climbers? A lot of fundraising; traveling in some of the world's most dangerous countries; enduring cold bivouacs, searing lungs, and a cloudy mind when you can least afford one. It means learning the hard lessons the mountains teach. Steve House built his reputation on ascents throughout the Alps, Canada, Alaska, the Karakoram, and the Himalaya that have expanded possibilities of style, speed, and difficulty.
-
-
A life-changing book
- By barbudo on 05-02-18
By: Steve House, and others
-
The Color of Everything
- A Journey to Quiet the Chaos Within
- By: Cory Richards
- Narrated by: Cory Richards
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Color of Everything is a thrilling tale of risk and adventure, written by a man who has done it all: he’s stood at the top of the world, climbed imposing mountain faces alone in the dark and become the only American to summit an 8,000-meter peak in winter. But it is also the story of a tumultuous life--a stirring, lyrical memoir that captures the profound musings of a brilliant and unquiet mind grappling with the meaning of success, the cost of fame, addiction, and whether it is possible to outrun your demons.
-
-
Best book in this genre since Into Thin Air
- By E. Vaughan on 12-04-24
By: Cory Richards
-
Dragons in the Snow
- Avalanche Detectives and the Race to Beat Death in the Mountains
- By: Ed Power
- Narrated by: Gary Bennett
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Dragons in the Snow, Power delves into the research and science behind avalanche forecasting and rescue, weaving in the art of backcountry skiing as well as dramatic tales of avalanche accidents, rescues, and recoveries. And he paints compelling portraits of the men and women who have made the study of avalanches their life's work. The tales told by these avalanche forecasters, as well as the stories of the backcountry riders who may "wake the dragon" make for not just a compelling listen, but also a powerful tool for raising avalanche awareness.
-
-
It was an okay listen
- By Adriana on 05-27-22
By: Ed Power
-
Tracking the Wild Coomba
- The Life of Legendary Skier Doug Coombs
- By: Robert Cocuzzo
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Arguably the greatest extreme skier to ever live, Doug Coombs pioneered hundreds of first descents down the biggest, steepest, most dangerous mountains in the world - from the Grand Teton "Otter Body" in Jackson Hole; to Mount Vinson, the highest point in Antarctica; to far-flung drops such as Wyatt Peak in Kyrgyzstan. He graced magazine covers, wowed moviegoers, became the face of top ski companies, and ascended as the king of big-mountain extreme skiing.
-
-
Totally Enjoyed It.
- By Terri Graham on 04-19-21
By: Robert Cocuzzo
-
Buried in the Sky
- The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day
- By: Peter Zuckerman, Amanda Padoan
- Narrated by: David Doersch
- Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Edmund Hillary first conquered Mt. Everest, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was at his side. Indeed, for as long as Westerners have been climbing the Himalaya, Sherpas have been the unsung heroes in the background. In August 2008, when eleven climbers lost their lives on K2, the world’s most dangerous peak, two Sherpas survived. They had emerged from poverty and political turmoil to become two of the most skillful mountaineers on earth. Based on unprecedented access and interviews, Buried in the Sky reveals their astonishing story for the first time.
-
-
Sherpas, The True Unsung Heroes
- By Kathy in CA on 07-26-15
By: Peter Zuckerman, and others
-
Journal of a Trapper
- Nine Years in the Rocky Mountains, 1834-1843
- By: Osborne Russell
- Narrated by: John Lescault
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1834, Osborne Russell joined an expedition from Boston, which proceeded to the Rocky Mountains to capitalize on the lucrative salmon and fur trade. Beginning at the age of 20, he detailed the life of a trapper in his journal and recorded his adventures through treacherous terrain, encounters with dangerous wildlife, and confrontations with the Rockies natives of the Rockies. Osbourne would remain there for the next nine years. Journal of a Trapper is his remarkable account as he developed into an experienced trapper and a seasoned mountain man of the Rockies.
-
-
early primary source of Rocky Mountain History
- By Ken Pearson on 09-23-20
By: Osborne Russell
-
Eiger Dreams
- Ventures Among Men and Mountains
- By: Jon Krakauer
- Narrated by: Philip Franklin
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No one writes about mountaineering and its attendant victories and hardships more brilliantly than Jon Krakauer. In this collection of his finest essays and reporting, Krakauer writes of mountains from the memorable perspective of one who has himself struggled with solo madness to scale Alaska's notorious Devils Thumb.
-
-
Entertaining but Irresponsible Writing
- By Ram on 04-07-18
By: Jon Krakauer
-
Pucker Factor 10
- Memoir of a US Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The author was drawn into the United States Army through ROTC, and he went through training to fly helicopters in combat over Vietnam. His experiences are notable because he flew both Huey “Slicks” and Huey “Gunships”: the former on defense as he flew troops into battle, and the latter on offense as he took the battle to the enemy. Through this book, the author relives his experiences flying and fighting, with special attention given to his and other pilots’ day-to-day lives.
-
-
gunship crew chief point of view.
- By Anonymous User on 02-12-20
By: James Joyce
-
The Way of the Hermit
- My Incredible 40 Years Living in the Wilderness
- By: Ken Smith, Will Millard
- Narrated by: Dean Williamson
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Way of the Hermit, Ken shares the remarkable story of his life for the very first time. Told with humor and compassion, his unique insights allow us to glimpse the awe and wonder of a life lived in nature and offer wisdom on how each of us can escape the pressures and stresses of modern life.
-
-
A decent book. Not the worst, not the best
- By Christian Pukala on 02-02-25
By: Ken Smith, and others
-
Force of Nature
- Mind, Body, Soul, and, of Course, Surfing
- By: Laird Hamilton
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Laird Hamilton has been hailed as the world's greatest big-wave surfer. His first book, Force of Nature, allows listeners a rare glimpse inside the unique philosophy that has created his circumstances, and not the other way around. After all, this is a man whose biological father abandoned him shortly after he was born; whose first job was working on a pig farm; who dropped out of school in 11th grade. And then the career decision: surfer.
-
-
okay i guess
- By megan parker on 12-27-22
By: Laird Hamilton
-
The Last of His Kind
- The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer
- By: David Roberts
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Last of His Kind, renowned adventure writer David Roberts gives readers a spellbinding history of mountain climbing in the twentieth century as told through the biography of Brad Washburn, legendary mountaineering pioneer and photographer. Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air, has praised David Roberts, saying, “Nobody alive writes better about mountaineering” - and nowhere is that truth more evident than in this breathtaking account of the life and exploits of America’s greatest mountain climber.
-
-
Great introduction to Washburn & climbing elites
- By Geoffrey on 04-27-22
By: David Roberts
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Art of Shralpinism
- Lessons from the Mountains
- By: Jeremy Jones
- Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, The Art of Shralpinism reflects the remarkable journey of snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones. Drawing on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, Jones offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti.
-
-
A must for any snowboarder
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-23
By: Jeremy Jones
-
The Only Thing Worth Dying For
- How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Only Thing Worth Dying For chronicles the most important mission in the early days of the Global War on Terror, when the men on the ground knew little about the enemy - and their commanders in Washington knew even less. With unprecedented access to surviving members of ODA 574, key war planners, and Karzai himself, award-winning author Eric Blehm cuts through the noise of politicians and high-level military officials to narrate, for the first time, a story of uncommon bravery and terrible sacrifice.
-
-
Ending is..... can't even put a word to it.
- By Ben on 04-18-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
Powder Days
- Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow
- By: Heather Hansman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Veteran ski journalist and former ski bum Heather Hansman takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into the hidden history of American skiing, offering a glimpse into an underexplored subculture from the perspective of a true insider. Hopping from Vermont to Colorado, Montana to West Virginia, Hansman profiles the people who have built their lives around a cold-weather obsession. Along the way she reckons with skiing's problematic elements and investigates how the sport is evolving in the face of the existential threat of climate change.
-
-
The Ski Bum will Never Die!
- By Stephen watson on 12-13-21
By: Heather Hansman
-
Legend
- A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Legend, acclaimed best-selling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A 12-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia - where US forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
-
-
awesome
- By Jacob on 11-13-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
The Last Season
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada - mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
-
-
Well Written Character Study of an NPS Ranger
- By Kathy in CA on 06-23-16
By: Eric Blehm
-
Fearless
- The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn’t know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan—but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, he wrote, “I’m not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.”
-
-
Best Book I’ve Read This Year!
- By The Sun on 09-26-24
By: Eric Blehm
-
The Art of Shralpinism
- Lessons from the Mountains
- By: Jeremy Jones
- Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, The Art of Shralpinism reflects the remarkable journey of snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones. Drawing on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, Jones offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti.
-
-
A must for any snowboarder
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-23
By: Jeremy Jones
-
The Only Thing Worth Dying For
- How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Only Thing Worth Dying For chronicles the most important mission in the early days of the Global War on Terror, when the men on the ground knew little about the enemy - and their commanders in Washington knew even less. With unprecedented access to surviving members of ODA 574, key war planners, and Karzai himself, award-winning author Eric Blehm cuts through the noise of politicians and high-level military officials to narrate, for the first time, a story of uncommon bravery and terrible sacrifice.
-
-
Ending is..... can't even put a word to it.
- By Ben on 04-18-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
Powder Days
- Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow
- By: Heather Hansman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Veteran ski journalist and former ski bum Heather Hansman takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into the hidden history of American skiing, offering a glimpse into an underexplored subculture from the perspective of a true insider. Hopping from Vermont to Colorado, Montana to West Virginia, Hansman profiles the people who have built their lives around a cold-weather obsession. Along the way she reckons with skiing's problematic elements and investigates how the sport is evolving in the face of the existential threat of climate change.
-
-
The Ski Bum will Never Die!
- By Stephen watson on 12-13-21
By: Heather Hansman
-
Legend
- A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Legend, acclaimed best-selling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A 12-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia - where US forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
-
-
awesome
- By Jacob on 11-13-15
By: Eric Blehm
-
The Last Season
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada - mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
-
-
Well Written Character Study of an NPS Ranger
- By Kathy in CA on 06-23-16
By: Eric Blehm
-
Fearless
- The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn’t know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan—but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, he wrote, “I’m not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.”
-
-
Best Book I’ve Read This Year!
- By The Sun on 09-26-24
By: Eric Blehm
-
Forever on the Mountain
- The Truth Behind One of Mountaineering's Most Controversial and Mysterious Disasters
- By: James M. Tabor
- Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne
- Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1967, seven young men, members of a twelve-man expedition led by twenty-four-year-old Joe Wilcox, were stranded at 20,000 feet on Alaska's Mount McKinley in a vicious Arctic storm. Ten days passed while the storm raged, yet no rescue was mounted. All seven perished in what remains the most tragic expedition in American climbing history.
-
-
The depth of research thanks
- By NE Plains Farm on 03-02-25
By: James M. Tabor
-
Beyond the Mountain
- By: Steve House, Reinhold Messner - foreword
- Narrated by: Steve House
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it take to be one of the world's best high-altitude mountain climbers? A lot of fundraising; traveling in some of the world's most dangerous countries; enduring cold bivouacs, searing lungs, and a cloudy mind when you can least afford one. It means learning the hard lessons the mountains teach. Steve House built his reputation on ascents throughout the Alps, Canada, Alaska, the Karakoram, and the Himalaya that have expanded possibilities of style, speed, and difficulty.
-
-
A life-changing book
- By barbudo on 05-02-18
By: Steve House, and others
-
Everest
- The West Ridge
- By: Thomas Hornbein, Jon Krakauer - foreword
- Narrated by: Tom Beyer
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1963, Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Everest via the South Col route. Roughly two weeks after Whittaker's achievement, Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld, fellow American mountaineers on the same expedition, became the first climbers ever to summit the world's highest peak via the dangerous and forbidding West Ridge—a route on which only a handful of climbers have since succeeded.
-
-
Great Story, Too Much Intro
- By Lane on 10-06-24
By: Thomas Hornbein, and others
-
Unbound
- A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery
- By: Steph Jagger
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steph Jagger had always been a force of nature. Dissatisfied with the passive, limited roles she saw for women growing up, she emulated the men in her life - chasing success, climbing the corporate ladder, ticking the boxes, playing by the rules of a masculine ideal. She was accomplished. She was living "The Dream". But it wasn't her dream. Then the universe caught her attention with a sign: Raise Restraining Device.
-
-
Loved it
- By Jennifer on 02-25-17
By: Steph Jagger
-
The Way of the Hermit
- My Incredible 40 Years Living in the Wilderness
- By: Ken Smith, Will Millard
- Narrated by: Dean Williamson
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Way of the Hermit, Ken shares the remarkable story of his life for the very first time. Told with humor and compassion, his unique insights allow us to glimpse the awe and wonder of a life lived in nature and offer wisdom on how each of us can escape the pressures and stresses of modern life.
-
-
A decent book. Not the worst, not the best
- By Christian Pukala on 02-02-25
By: Ken Smith, and others
-
The Mountain of My Fear and Deborah
- Two Mountaineering Classics
- By: David Roberts, Jon Krakauer - foreword
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The publication of The Mountain of My Fear in 1968 and Deborah in 1970 changed the face of the mountaineering narrative. Now these two classic expedition narratives by acclaimed writer David Roberts are together again in one volume for a new generation of readers.
-
-
An honest look into why people climb mountains
- By Kyra Rhodes on 05-19-21
By: David Roberts, and others
-
Dead Mountain
- The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident
- By: Donnie Eichar
- Narrated by: Donnie Eichar
- Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. Eerie aspects of the incident—unexplained violent injuries, signs that they cut open and fled the tent without proper clothing or shoes, a strange final photograph taken by one of the hikers, and elevated levels of radiation found on some of their clothes—have led to decades of speculation over what really happened.
-
-
Mystery & Intrigue In The Ural Mountains
- By Sara on 06-30-15
By: Donnie Eichar
-
Still Sideways
- Riding the Edge Again After Losing My Sight
- By: Devon Raney
- Narrated by: Jesse Bernstein, Devon Raney
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before a surfing accident caused 33-year-old Devon Raney to lose all but 15 percent of his vision, he had already lived an extraordinary life. Time and again, he'd gone against the grain to maximize time for his passions - surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding - bringing him into the direct path of colorful characters, unexpected adventures, and even the occasional brush with death. Through it all, Devon's commitment to outdoor adventure never wavered.
By: Devon Raney
-
Annapurna
- A Woman's Place
- By: Arlene Blum, Maurice Herzog - foreword
- Narrated by: Eileen Stevens
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Never before has such an account of mountaineering triumph and tragedy been told from a woman's point of view. By proving that women had the skill, strength, and courage necessary to make this difficult and dangerous climb, the 1978 Women's Himalayan Expedition's accomplishment had a positive impact around the world, changing perceptions about women's abilities in sports and other arenas. And Annapurna: A Woman's Place has become an acknowledged classic in the annals of women's achievements - a story of challenge and commitment told with passion, humor, and unflinching honesty.
-
-
An Actual Review (From Someone Who Listened)
- By Vinckei on 07-16-19
By: Arlene Blum, and others
-
The Color of Everything
- A Journey to Quiet the Chaos Within
- By: Cory Richards
- Narrated by: Cory Richards
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Color of Everything is a thrilling tale of risk and adventure, written by a man who has done it all: he’s stood at the top of the world, climbed imposing mountain faces alone in the dark and become the only American to summit an 8,000-meter peak in winter. But it is also the story of a tumultuous life--a stirring, lyrical memoir that captures the profound musings of a brilliant and unquiet mind grappling with the meaning of success, the cost of fame, addiction, and whether it is possible to outrun your demons.
-
-
Best book in this genre since Into Thin Air
- By E. Vaughan on 12-04-24
By: Cory Richards
-
Above the Clouds
- How I Carved My Own Path to the Top of the World
- By: Kilian Jornet
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The most accomplished mountain runner of all time contemplates his record-breaking climbs of Mount Everest in this profound memoir - an intellectual and spiritual journey that moves from the earth’s highest peak to the soul’s deepest reaches.
-
-
A bit too much psychobabble
- By Amazon Customer on 10-09-20
By: Kilian Jornet
-
Rise
- My Story
- By: Lindsey Vonn
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first ever memoir from the most decorated female skier of all time, revealing never-before-told stories of her life in the fast lane, her struggle with depression, and the bold decisions that helped her break down barriers on and off the slopes.
-
-
A wonderful inspiring book
- By Nancy on 07-04-23
By: Lindsey Vonn
What listeners say about The Darkest White
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Allison McCormick
- 03-22-24
Legend
Kelly's story is one of a kind. True legend of his time and taken to early.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MC Waxhaw
- 03-04-24
It feels like you are there!!
Eric Blehm continues to impress. You can tell how much he puts into his books to get it right. I was floored by his military books which led me to read all of them. This one did not disappoint. When he gets to the avalanche its feels like you are there. Im a military guy and never really participated in snow sports. Eric hooked me with Fearless and Legend and i have enjoyed this and his other books just as much
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- KC Crow
- 05-22-24
Craig Kelly, Legend
The story of Craig Kelly's rise with the sport of snowboarding is legendary. I started snowboarding in 1987 at Mt. Bachelor and Craig Kelly was our idol. I learned how to ride on a Sims and I've been riding Burton ever since. To this day, his riding style is unmatched and a thing of beauty. I like how this story showed us who Craig was off the slopes - a humble, hard working, and loyal person who lived in the moment, a true zen master. RIP to all who died that day. #CraigKellyIsMyCopilot
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Georgia
- 12-04-24
Split Craig Kelly
Kelly’s persona was a hardworking and party hard snowboarder before snowboarding was widely accepted. This book with really well written and good narration it dives into the life and details that most will never know nor appreciate. Kelly was truly a beacon to inspire others. Truly enjoyed the book and the narrator.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jer Hud
- 10-08-24
Gripping
I love snowboarding and historical non-fiction so this hit the mark. It's gotta be the definitive Craig Kelly book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patrick
- 01-17-25
Great but sad story
This book was great. I went looking for a book to better understand who Craig Kelly was and this was just what I was looking for. I do honestly feel that the author did a great job of looking at and understanding all sides and everyone’s story from the day.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Liz
- 04-17-25
So real!
Wow, this story was amazing! As always Blehm’s writing is beautiful and raw. A nice tribute to the life of Craig Kelly.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kathleen Mccord
- 04-12-24
Incredible!!
If only there were more than 5 stars to rate a book!
This book was perfection. I knew nothing about snowboarding. I don't even ski. But this book was riveting...everything about it,..both the story and the narrator...absolutely excellent! Be prepared to have tissues on hand for the ending. I HIGHLY recommend this incredible book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joe
- 12-29-24
My favorite rider of all time
Craig was a massive influence to me as an unapologetic knuckledragger. He showed me that the mountains are where it’s at, not in the lift lines or jib parks. I loved this book but it suffers from overly theatrical narration and mispronunciations of certain words specific to the subject. I was able to overlook it but in hindsight I’d prefer this in print form. Overall this book did tremendous service to Craig and his groundbreaking achievements in the golden years of snowboarding. Long live CK.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ian
- 12-02-24
Craig, falling in style
Amazing story of snowboardings’ most beloved god father, Craig Kelly. From pushing style and the direction of snowboarding, to teaching people about safety when heading into the backcountry. The mountains are playgrounds but they do not care who you are or your
accomplishments. Please enter with a humble mind.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!