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Tom
Hornbein's epic tale of the daring first US ascent of
Mount Everest
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Mount
Everest, located on the Nepalese Tibetan border at an altitude
of 8,840 metres, is the world's highest peak. First climbed
in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay who were members
of Sir John Hunt's British Expedition. News of their success
on Mount Everest reached the UK on the day of Queen Elizabeth's
coronation.
Ten
years later the first US ascent of Mount Everest was an awesome
achievement. Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein climbed a new route
by the West Ridge, and then dramatically made an unplanned descent
of the 'Yak Route' to complete the first traverse of Everest.
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Everest
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1996 there was a disaster involving two commercial Everest expeditions.
Rob Hall, the experienced Everest guide from New Zealand was guiding
his clients as he had done on previous years, to the summit of Everest.
A rival guide, Scott Fisher from the US, new to the Everest guiding
business, was leading his clients to the summit on the same day.
However, both parties were climbing too slowly. Rob Hall felt he
could not turn his clients around until Fischer turned his around.
But Fischer was exhausted and too low on the mountain to direct
his clients. As a result of the consequent delays, the ability to
return safely was compromised. Both guides died, together with many
of their clients. Just about all of the survivors have written a
book... |
| This
author, who was one of the guides, got most of the blame for
the disaster. |
The
woman climber's perspective - actually the first book published
on the subject. |
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| The
best seller - the journalist's perspective. |
The
doctor's perspective. |
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The
'Everest Trek' is a magnificent walk through the Khumbu and Gokyo
regions, the home of the Sherpas. Easily accessible by air, many
thousands of people visit each year.
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