Travel to India

The Last Step: The American Ascent of K2

Format: Paperback
Author: Rick Ridgeway
ReleaseDate: July, 1999
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Rating:

The Last Step: The American Ascent of K2
May be a bit too detailed for some, but it definitely picks up as it goes. Outstanding account of the expedition. It's unusual to see this much detail on personal interactions. Photos were incredible, could have even used a few more.

The Last of Its Kind
But while the equipment was relatively modern, communication was archaic by today's standards. This expedition of the first Americans (and third group) to summit K2 took place in 1978--which for me doesn't seem like ancient history. No GPS, no satellite phones, no internet uplinks--the wife of one climber learns of his fate by telegram! Also, because this was Pakistan and not Nepal, there were no Sherpas and only a very small number of high altitude porters and none in the final stages.

So these guys (and gals--it really wasn't ancient history) did it the old-fashioned way--they trekked in for many days to reach Base Camp, they fixed their own rope and carried all their own equipment and cooked their own food. No team of Sherpas to set up aluminum ladders and make sure everyone gets across them. These folks write letters home and listen to cassette tapes.

And yet the story is told with the frankness of modern times--how do you pee at 27,000 feet, how do you deal with adultery on the expedition, and is it really worth it to climb mountains like this, risking death and the possibility of leaving your kids orphaned?

Extremely up-close and vivid writing, step by step and ragged breath by ragged breath. I read this on a hot summer day and yet the feeling of frostbite seemed more real than the hot air around me. A captivating story told by a skilled climber who is also a gifted writer. .

Great read ... gripping at times
Instead I read it in two sittings. I had intended to stretch the reading of this over a couple of weekends. I literally could not put it down! I especially liked the author's account of his experience in the "death zone" while making his successful assault on one of the more difficult peaks in the Himalaya - without supplemental oxygen! I had always thought I would like to climb in the Himalaya. After reading the part about Wickwire's bivouac near 28,000 feet, I think I will be satisfied just reading about it. I highly recommend this excellent book!.

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