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lunablue12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
duchessofreadin's review
4.0
When a climb goes wrong, there is not much that can be done, other than trying to get help.
Hidden Mountains goes into the story of such a climb, one that went horribly wrong, leaving one person paralyzed, and another living with the guilt of surviving, as well as becoming a constant caregiver to her boyfriend.
As four friends set out for the trip of a lifetime, they could not know that their lives were about to change. The wilderness of Alaska can be unforgiving, and while there are many dangers that one can see, not all of them are within an eye's view.
This book follows the perilous hours that the climbers were on the mountain, the rescue and its personnel, and the harrowing hours of the 'not knowing' while they waiting for more answers.
I enjoyed reading through this book, and the insights that were gained from it. While most of us enjoy the outdoors, anything, including climbing, can be dangerous. Even planning for every possible "could happen" does not guarantee that you are prepared for the unexpected.
Great read overall.
Hidden Mountains goes into the story of such a climb, one that went horribly wrong, leaving one person paralyzed, and another living with the guilt of surviving, as well as becoming a constant caregiver to her boyfriend.
As four friends set out for the trip of a lifetime, they could not know that their lives were about to change. The wilderness of Alaska can be unforgiving, and while there are many dangers that one can see, not all of them are within an eye's view.
This book follows the perilous hours that the climbers were on the mountain, the rescue and its personnel, and the harrowing hours of the 'not knowing' while they waiting for more answers.
I enjoyed reading through this book, and the insights that were gained from it. While most of us enjoy the outdoors, anything, including climbing, can be dangerous. Even planning for every possible "could happen" does not guarantee that you are prepared for the unexpected.
Great read overall.
crackel's review
4.0
A gripping story that illuminates the sheer grit climbers require to continually persevere through the challenges their sport offers. As an athlete, I can only imagine the wound dealt to Emmet that he survived and then continued to endure as he was unable to continue the pursuit of his sport. All four climbers deserve the recognition they receive for their courage to help a friend in need when it mattered most.
amr316's review
4.0
Four stars for this story of outdoor climbing gone wrong — it’s a quick and thought-provoking read.
Similar to “Into Thin Air,” this book profiles one climbing trip where a series of mistakes and bad judgment led to serious consequences. I particularly enjoyed the author’s exploration of the ethics of outdoor climbing, the overreliance on volunteer rescuers, the long term impacts of climbing accidents on those who survive them but are traumatized, and the higher number of gym climbers seeking outdoor experiences without an appropriate knowledge base. This is an area of the sport not often explored in books like this one, and I appreciated the author’s willingness to “go there” so to speak.
At times, I found myself frustrated with the decisions of the climbers profiled. All four wound up climbing beyond their skill/comfort level because they wanted to get a first ascent — which necessitated them going to a highly remote area that was challenging for rescuers to reach. It felt like a decision motivated more by ego than by anything else.
The one element of this book I didn’t love was the large (and often unnecessary) cast of characters introduced. The author includes 5ish other stories of climbing accidents, most of which seemed like unnecessary fluff to make the book longer, and the numerous names/acronyms were confusing. At the very least, a “cast of characters” list at the beginning would’ve been quite helpful.
Nevertheless, four stars for a gripping book that breathes new life into the non-fiction adventure genre.
Similar to “Into Thin Air,” this book profiles one climbing trip where a series of mistakes and bad judgment led to serious consequences. I particularly enjoyed the author’s exploration of the ethics of outdoor climbing, the overreliance on volunteer rescuers, the long term impacts of climbing accidents on those who survive them but are traumatized, and the higher number of gym climbers seeking outdoor experiences without an appropriate knowledge base. This is an area of the sport not often explored in books like this one, and I appreciated the author’s willingness to “go there” so to speak.
At times, I found myself frustrated with the decisions of the climbers profiled. All four wound up climbing beyond their skill/comfort level because they wanted to get a first ascent — which necessitated them going to a highly remote area that was challenging for rescuers to reach. It felt like a decision motivated more by ego than by anything else.
The one element of this book I didn’t love was the large (and often unnecessary) cast of characters introduced. The author includes 5ish other stories of climbing accidents, most of which seemed like unnecessary fluff to make the book longer, and the numerous names/acronyms were confusing. At the very least, a “cast of characters” list at the beginning would’ve been quite helpful.
Nevertheless, four stars for a gripping book that breathes new life into the non-fiction adventure genre.
lyzz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
I love mountain climbing books - especially ones where there is a rescue involved. This was an incredibly written story about two couples who suffer a devastating accident while rock climbing in the Alaska Hidden Mountains. This book does not disappoint.
The pacing of this non-fiction work is excellent. The author provides enough context about these couples as well as rock climbing for the reader to understand this world but not so much that it drags this book. The author is a friend of the two couples and includes information about his own journey as a rock climber throughout the book which makes this book feel personal.
There are two things that I love about this book in addition to the excellent storytelling. I had no understanding of the "PJs." PJs or para-rescuemen are elite Air Force trained in personnel recovery. Alaska provides an excellent environment for them to utilize these skills with the huge amount of land, geography and outdoor sports.
The second thing that I appreciated about this story was that it focused on what happens after the horrible event. I've often wondered how do people move forward after these traumatic events? Especially when climbing is something that has become part of them. Are they able to climb again? Do they suffer PTSD? What happens? Many books provide a brief epilogue or afterword that may paint an overily positive picture. This book goes into depth of how these climbers move forward that I wish more of these "mountain climbing gone wrong" books would cover. It is tender and thoughtful in this exploration that makes you think deeper about trauma and the impact on our lives.
The pacing of this non-fiction work is excellent. The author provides enough context about these couples as well as rock climbing for the reader to understand this world but not so much that it drags this book. The author is a friend of the two couples and includes information about his own journey as a rock climber throughout the book which makes this book feel personal.
There are two things that I love about this book in addition to the excellent storytelling. I had no understanding of the "PJs." PJs or para-rescuemen are elite Air Force trained in personnel recovery. Alaska provides an excellent environment for them to utilize these skills with the huge amount of land, geography and outdoor sports.
The second thing that I appreciated about this story was that it focused on what happens after the horrible event. I've often wondered how do people move forward after these traumatic events? Especially when climbing is something that has become part of them. Are they able to climb again? Do they suffer PTSD? What happens? Many books provide a brief epilogue or afterword that may paint an overily positive picture. This book goes into depth of how these climbers move forward that I wish more of these "mountain climbing gone wrong" books would cover. It is tender and thoughtful in this exploration that makes you think deeper about trauma and the impact on our lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
deboraha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0