Matt Dickinson

This is another book about the terrible storm and lost lives on Mt. Everest, in May 1996. However, Dickinson was on the North Face, the Tibet side. This side of the mountain is said to be more difficult due to the cold, landscape and winds.

Dickinson was a film maker and part of an expedition that included Brian Blessed, a British entertainment personality. Dickinson's assignment was to film Blessed as he attempted to conquer Everest. Dickinson never intended to go for the summit. He hired a more qualified climber and film maker to join the expedition. Dickinson did, however, catch "summit-fever" and joined the final push to the top.

I have read better mountaineering stories, however this one still kept me entertained. Although it took nearly 100 pages of lead-in to get to the meat of the story. Once there, it was a gripping tale, but I don't think there was enough there for a book, even one this short. Dickinson includes events that occurred on the south side of Everest to fill in where his experience left off.

I am not sure why I read anything I can find on mountaineering and Everest. I suppose it is because I know it is something I will never experience. Also, I love the photo's that are usually included in the book. This one does have some awesome shots.

I am going to be on a mountaineering kick for awhile. I found a pile of books I had forgotten about and now I have "summit-fever" too.… (mehr)

This was a short, interactive book that was remarkably intact for being 13 years old and a library copy. There are many documents in pockets to pull out or examine - an old diary, a form for what to do with your body if you die on Everest, a list of items to bring on your summit attempt, the envelope found on Mallory's body in 1997, a Tibetan prayer flag. . . .except that's the one item that was stolen from the book. Bummer.

There are some nice pictures and it's a quick history lesson of summit attempts and what it's like to climb Everest now. Also some speculation on the future of climbing this mountain.… (mehr)

This was unexpectedly excellent, I didn't really have any expectations going in but whew, what a ride. It begins with an Antarctic expedition in disarray with one of a pair of explorers wishing to throw in the towel and the other wanting to push on even though they're out of food.

After a botched air rescue results in the aircraft crashing and another person trapped on the ice a scientific base 300 miles away is contacted and coaxed into a risky rescue mission. Whilst the rescue mission is ultimately successful it turns out that one of these explorers is a bit of a delusional sociopath with little to no regard for anyone but himself.

As the story progresses his actions puts everyone at risk resulting in destruction of the scientific base and a race back across 300 miles of unforgiving Antarctic ice to the rescue beacon previously used to call in the ill fated air rescue.

It's quite an action packed survival adventure and the above doesn't even give a true indication of how much of a douchebag the explorer in question is. The guy seems to be living in a delusional world of his own, caring for nothing but promoting his own exploits.

Overall, an excellent page turning thriller.… (mehr)