Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Additionally... the fact that the actor Brian Blessed was also on the mountain in spring 96 was a twist I did not see coming 😲

Still listening to the Reunion on BBC Sounds and Mike Trueman from the International Expedition features. I don't recall him featuring massively in Krakauer's book, but it turns out he's got his own book out, The Storms. Haven't seen it mentioned here, has anyone read it?

Also, can't believe they have Makalu on from the Taiwanese expedition, after what I've read about him to date!!

Thanks for the recommendations folks!

When I’m reading about climbing the highest summits I get cross about the foolish choices that some mountaineers make. Each book I have to be reminded that in the death zone, especially without supplementary oxygen, it’s like making life or death decisions when you’re really quite drunk.

Annapurna by Arlene Blum is a good tellimg of the first female only ascent of Annapurna. After a glut of expedition accounts from various men it’s really interesting to notice the difference in style from the women’s group, not just of the climbing but the organising and the documenting of the expedition too.

I second this recommendation.

🙁 @Crabble.

Annapurna sounds lethal.

I’ll check out the ghosts of K2, thank for the recommendation.

I just love reading about mountaineering stories. They’re fascinating and scary - I just wish so many of them didn’t have sad endings.

I don’t know if there’s a book about it but the story if Jean-Christophe Lafaille is remarkable. He is abseiling down the south face of Annapurna with a partner, when his partner falls to his death along with all of their ropes and equipment. Lafaille is left stranded a mile up the sheer south face of Annapurna on his own with no equipment. Terrifying.

Now listening to this. Thanks for the link!

I’m listening to The Ghosts of K2, just unbelievable.

Ooh this thread! Offering so many brilliant worm halls to fall down, bookmarking for when I have a day free to follow up all these suggestions

Omg @TheVeryAngryCaterpillar it gives me pure joy to read your post! Mine was also left in the loo at my dad's house (must have been the thing to do back then, before mobile phones??) And I went back to it again and again. A story that obviously made a deep impression. Could have been early 90s rather than 80s thinking about it.

Would love to read it again.

Oh my God! Upside Down in a Crevasse! My nan had a readers digest, she left it in the loo, and I must have been shut in there for about an hour and a half transfixed by that story. 100% a formative armchair adventurer experience, it gives me the willies to this day!

They introduced me to many new subjects as a child. Just seen loads of old ones for sale on etsy. Must resist!

Apologies for the mini derail folks.

I'm suddenly nostalgic for the dentist waiting room in the 80s - Readers Digest and the odd Woman's Own.

Meant to ask, does anyone else remember that readers digest article or just me? I have googled briefly but no joy. It was a long time ago though tbf.

Have almost finished the book now! Going to rewatch the film now I know more about the main (and background) players.

Then will start the other recommendations on this thread.

What is it with the recurring fascination @LetLooseTheDogs ?? I'm exactly the same!

As a child in the 80s I read a readers digest article at my dad's house, I can remember the image and the name precisely but not much of the detail. It was called 'Upside down in a Crevasse' and it was about a skiier who fell and was wedged in a crevasse upside down by his skis, who (obviously) survived to tell the tale. I think this must have started my fascination with tales of peril.

In a similar vein, 127 Hours is a must watch film.

Fallen by Mike Conefrey was published recently, it’s about Mallory.

Can anyone recommend interviews with Messner about Krakauer, etc? I loved Into Thin Air and have read several other books mentioned on this thread but I can’t get into Messner’s writing. I visited one of his mountain museums on holiday and I think he’s fascinating so I’d like to hear his views without having to try to engage with his writings!

Joining in - another armchair mountaineer here!

if you like Everest disaster stories I guarantee you’ll like K2 disaster stories. This is probably the best: No Way Down by Graham Bowley
https://www.waterstones.com/book/no-way-down/graham-bowley/9780141044064

And on a slightly different note, Catherine Destivelle’s autobiog Rock Queen is fantastic. Women get so little attention in climbing but they do some amazing things. I think you have to buy it from a specialist climbing shop if you want the English translation tho.

Just to add I see there are two versions of Endurance on Audible. I listened to the Simon Prebble narration.

Into Thin Air is a fabulous read. I have a recurring Everest fascination which comes back every few years and I reread it each time. Also recommend Everest 1953 by Mick Conefrey and Into The Silence as already mentioned.

I’ve also delved into polar exploration, equally fascinating. Endurance by Alfred Lansing is superb. I listened to it on Audible and was bereft when I finished it.

On Netflix Mountain Queen a documentary about a female Sherpa who held (maybe still does) the record for most ascents of Everest. Shes had a fascinating life.

I watched Mountain Queen on Netflix and thought of you lot.
This has so many Mumsnet threads rolled into one and at the heart one amazing woman who has spent longer on Everest than I have reading about it.

The Rum Doodle is a cafe in KTM named after the book. If you have a summiteer's certificate for Everest you don't pay. I assume it's still there - haven't been back since 2008

Blimey, I read these years ago and had a full on Everest obsession too - but in a reverse ‘why would anyone want to climb her’ way. So obsessed that 23yo DD would have been called Mallory (or George) had she been born a boy!

I loved Maiden as well - it’s the film I recommend to everyone - but draw a line there as DD is a sailor and it scares me when she tells me tales of some of her trips 😬🫣

Savage Summit, the stories of the first 5 women to climb K2, is also worth reading.

So unfair! Might need to send this back for a replacement. Phhhttt. Thank you @LordSnot at least I know I'm not going mad.