Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season |  | Author: Nick Heil
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
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Rating:  31 reviews
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0805089918
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.522095496
EAN: 9780805089912
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Product Description
"A dramatic story, ably and convincingly told . . . A chilling look at the precarious line between success and tragedy."—Kirkus Reviews On May 15, 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 hardly singular: 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. 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, 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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 31
 Its the truth...I was there. July 10, 2008
Brett Merrell (Laguna Niguel, Ca United States)
52 out of 59 found this review helpful
First off, let me talk about my qualifications to write this review. My name is Brett Merrell and I was on Mt Everest in 2006 as part of the Himex expedition written about in this book. I am writting this review so that you people can buy a book knowing that it tells and accurate story.
Nick Heil has restored my faith in journalists. This book is accurate and 99% objective. Nick tells the true story of Everest and the people that live in its shadow. Not since "Into Thin Air" have I read a book that paints such a clear picture of the good, bad and ugly of Mt Everest. Although my personal opinion of Russ Brice and the Discovery Channel is completely negative, I can say that Nick's description of Russ Brice is mostly accurate.
Attention readers! If you want a book that tells the truth about an Everest expedition then buy this book! Nick spent countless hours of research. He asked all the tough questions and he actually became part of the 2007 Himex expedition and climbed to 23500 feet on Mt Everest. Most importantly, Nick Heil took all the facts and emotions and then documented them accurately with heartfelt words.
BUY THE BOOK. It is a real Everest story. I received nothing and will receive nothing for writing this review.
Brett Merrell
Well-researched and very well-written August 27, 2008
R. Murphy (Eastern U.S.)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A stunning addition to the Everest bookshelf, Heil writes about the 2006 climbing season, the second-deadliest since the 1996 disaster. This time, there was no crippling storm and no stranded teams - but forty people walked past a dying man just below the summit without stopping. Heil presents a thorough and amazing look at what the circumstances were, and ponders the question - what ethics exist at the roof of the world?
Simply Amazing November 3, 2008
Tropicalwolf (Ohio, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
While I will draw short of calling this book "equal" to INTO THIN AIR, it certainly stands on its own as one of the BEST books ever written about Everest and in particular about the 2006 climbing season. Well written, well researched, and completely thorough. This book goes beyond the 2006 season and delves into the history of Everest, the men and women who have climbed the mountain, and the reasons behind their passions. It gives fair representation to ALL the individuals involved including the often maligned Russell Brice. The conclusion should be that Brice did all that was possible and even went beyond the call for climber David Sharp and his family. Each climber who sets foot on Everest knows the score. Come prepared, come equipped, pay attention, or you're going to die. This book is a great companion to the Discovery DVD series "Everest - Beyond The Limit". HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Excellent narrative; informative and compelling. May 6, 2008
Erica Heber (Sammamish, WA.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I pre-ordered this book immediately after watching The Discovery Channel documentary: "Everest Beyond the Limit". It is an excellent companion to the documentary giving very insightful information on the tragedy of 1996. I really re-evaluated how I felt about Russell Brice and the sherpas through this book. It is always fascinating to read about this world on Everest that most of us cannot ever visit. I almost felt like I was reading about a story from another planet! If you love Everest but cannot ever climb it, buy this book to visit this amazing place...it is a wonderful read and a perfect addition to my ever growing mountaineering library.
Remarkable November 19, 2008
Jean Shaffer (Alabama)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am fascinated by some things that people do, such as climbing the highest mountain or going to depths of the oceans, and the risks they are willing to take for experiences most of us will never have.
Of course I always assume that the people and situation are being done by experts, in situations where there is some control to the extent possible, but as this books sshows that is not always the case.
Like any book where you read about times when it seems if things were done differently just a bit, another outcome could happpen, this one raises questions and shows potential failings in the system and people which could have avoided unfortunate outcomes.
Hopefully people take heed of books like this for the future, but as pointed out many things have been known about for awhile, such as who and how people can climb Everest. Very well written book and I highly recommmend it to anyone who is interested in Everest and stories surrounding one the the goals people only usually dream about.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 31
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