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A review by amr316
Hidden Mountains: Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong by Michael Wejchert
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.