Climbing Mt. Everest and Hidden Mountains (two book reviews)
Blind Descent by Brian Dickinson is about his arduous climb of Mount Everest in 2011 and his blind descent back down below the death zone. Brian is a mountaineer from Washington State who has climbed many other peaks and soon had his eyes on Mount Everest. After much prayer and consideration with his wife, Brian made his summit bid in the 2011 season.
What makes the narrative of this story unique are the many flashbacks incorporated within the story as Brian reflects on his previous experience in the Navy and as part of Search and Rescue that allowed him the training the fortitude to not panic under strenuous circumstances. Brian also shares his emotions about being away from his family for two months while he pursues his dream. Ultimately, he wants to set an example for his children about the pursuit and accomplishment of his dreams, but for the most part, Brian is not reckless with his decision to summit Everst. There are many times where he reassesses his capacity and ability to push on. In addition to his flashbacks, each chapter also begins with scripture.
Noteworthy Quotes/Mentions:
Brian was a bit of an adventure seeker even from a young age. He mentions about a time he had to have stitches “under [his] nose and in [his] mouth where the skin had ripped away [his] jaw” (3).
“For me, it mostly comes down to the way God has wired me. I have a deep drive to set big goals for myself and then strive to achieve them. If I don’t I feel like I’m not living life to the fullest and becoming the person God created me to be” (6).
Brian demonstrates respect and appreciation for the Sherpas and a care for the environment throughout the story. For the Sherpas, he details the true work and importance they serve in the endeavor to summit Mount Everest.
“As I’d learned in my military training, it’s always better to overprepare–the goal is to make sure your training is more difficult than the actual task” (70).
Brian shares some of his experience in the Navy. In one instance he explains about a helicopter crash that resulted in the bodies that were “burned and charred to the seats” (147).
“I never wanted to have a “summit or die” attitude; in the end, it’s a mountain, and no mountain is worth dying for” (159).
“Our faith in Christ was what kept us grounded–both when we were together, raising our kids and going about our daily lives, and when we were apart, facing the challenges that come with a lifestyle like mine” (171).
Brian does mention the gear and dead bodies strewn about the mountain (173).
On page 178 Brian discusses an incident that happened with his family while he was in training. In this event, Brian’s grandfather - recently diagnosed with Cancer - “stuck a pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger.” Brian’s mom showed up moments later and called 911. He survived the event itself and was put on life support. The book doesn’t say whether or not he died from the event at hand.
While this nonfiction story is certainly for adults, it certainly could appeal to upper high school readers. Due to the nature of some of his descriptions regarding his training and the event with his grandfather, I probably wouldn’t let readers under 15, unless you know your reader would be undisturbed. Ultimately, Brian’s focus on God throughout the story and his testimony of God’s faithfulness throughout the entire experience is an engaging and exciting read that points readers to look at the amazing world the LORD has created.
Hidden Mountains: Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong by Michael Wejchert is a nonfiction narrative following the events and life leading to an Alaskan climb for four climbers - John, Alissa, Emmett, and Lauren. The author, Michael Wejchert, is also a climber and writer who interjects his own experience, knowledge, and understandings within the narrative of this particular climbing event which adds context for the reader. In addition to his knowledge base, Wejchert also knows each of the climbers involved in this story which adds additional nuance to the story. The ultimate question explored is how much risk should a climber reasonably take?
The story opens with situating the reader with the climb the mountaineers are aiming to conquer. From there, the narrative shifts back in time to give background on the life for each of the climbers that led to the moment at hand. In short, these four are two sets of couples - John and Alissa and Emmet and Lauren. Lauren was the one least excited or ambitious about the fateful trip to the Hidden Mountains in Alaska. Alissa and John had this climb as one of their lasts with Emmet and Lauren as they were preparing to take life on an adventurous road with their sight set on additional heights to conquer. Climbing as each set on the same mountain, each couple chose to climb a different route to the summit. Late in the afternoon, Emmet, who was leading, fell 30 feet from a ridge. Fortunately, Lauren had a communications device and was able to contact Global Rescue and the other couple on the mountain who quickly changed their climbing route to get to Emmet and Lauren. The story details those attempts and the trauma faced by all involved. Rescuers are able to finally get to Emmet, and the story details the events of that attempt and his recovery from the fall - a fall that left him a paralyzed.
Written by a fellow mountaineer and certainly for those in the climbing community, Wejchert gives a brief historical overview of climbing in America, the attitudes and emotions that comes with climbing, the training, and how the network of rescue seems to work. It is an eye opening narrative for anyone not familiar with this world of sport. Wejchert wrestles with the question of risk throughout, finally settling on “Deciding how much risk we take is on us” (235).
Compared to an earlier read I had on Everest survival this story is definitely a narrative with a humanistic worldview and strong focus on self-reliance. This seeming worldview of the climbers I think does have a factor in the experiences post trauma. For instance, none of these couples were married at the time of the event. Emmet and Lauren had been dating for three years and were living together. Lauren was stuck for about eight hours on the side of the mountain waiting for help as she had tied Emmet off on her end. The trauma of not knowing truly if he was alive, dead, or dying as she herself had to survive is unimaginable. In addition to that, the constant around the clock care Emmet needed after the fact, while she struggled with her own trauma adds to the pressure she was under. It is unclear if Lauren received counseling, but I am sure she needed it. Ultimately, after about nine months, Lauren made the difficult decision to leave Emmet and the story details Emmet’s sorrow as Lauren was his everything. I have great compassion and empathy for Lauren, for all that she experienced without support, and she was rightfully worried about the way she would be treated and perceived about leaving Emmet after the accident. Nevertheless, I think this is where a distinction with faith and marriage is powerful in unimaginable circumstances. There is something about covenant marriage that helps give strength when the worst happens, the vow through sickness and health. Unfortunately, our world today attacks marriage, and people are sold a bill of goods.
Other points of mention/notes:
Emmett had a relationship prior to Lauren that ended due to his desire to ice climb. “‘Your’re not thinking about me at all,’ Emmett remembered her saying. ‘All you want to do is ice climb.’ And like that, it was over. He woke up and kissed her like it was any other day. Then she got up and left, and they never saw each other again” (39).
There is a reference on page 66 to a “Uruguayan rugby team” that became cannibalistic trying to survive without the ability to communicate with the outside world.
Another point of note for this particular book is profanity. The “f-word” is used several times throughout and appears at least once on the following pages: 47, 145, 174, 186, 204,
Damned appears on page 37,
Bastard appears on page 69,
Shit appears on page 147 and 217
On page 108 there is a reference to Alissa coming close to the climbing side of Lauren and Emmet and her witness of Emmet “taking a shit” on the “side of the ridge.”
Chapter 13 gives some background to the training of some of the members who help search and rescue - particularly PJs (pararescuers).
In reference to fear and PJs, the author writes “It’s likely the pilots, Pjs, and everyone else at Elmendorf compartmentalize risk and fear the same way good climbers do. They use it, and it informs their decision-making” (157).
There are a few references when trying to make contact with different rescues or people in charge that “serendipity” or the like is used to account for the “luck.” However, anyone of faith will know that the LORD was looking out for Emmet on that mountain, and it was clearly His hand of provision.
There is a reference one of the rescuers makes related to faith and getting to Emmet. He says, “I think God helped us out a little bit” (160).
The story ends with the author’s reflection on his processing of Emmet’s experience, his own, and the sport of climbing. He notes that with more people climbing and the need for more rescues, that the search and rescue system itself is thin and taxed; he claims more needs to be done with improving the system, but the financial resources just do not seem to be there. Additionally, Wejchert is very endearing of Emmet as he admires his spirit and to live the best life he can knowing that the time he has left is considerably limited.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it stands in stark contrast to Blind Descent and if I had to choose between the two, I would clearly choose Brian Dickinson’s story as he really chronicles the closeness of the LORD through his entire ordeal. If you have a teen reader who is interested in climbing, extreme sports, or true stories, then between these two options, I would go with Dickinson. That isn’t to discredit Wejchert’s reflective story and those who experienced a harrowing experience. Their lives are forever changed, and I pray they can in some way find the hand of God over such an ordeal.
