Veteran climber Mark Synnott never planned on climbing Mount Everest, but a hundred-year mystery lured him into an expedition and a history of adventure, tragedy, and human aspiration unfolded.
... Synnott skillfully describes early-20th-century exploration, then dives into a story about Everest that merges mystery, adventure and history into a single tragic bundle ... When many books have been written on a subject, like Everest, we turn to a new one largely in the hope that the author will make a good guide and traveling companion. Synnott measures up nicely ... Synnott knows how to keep readers turning the pages, and they will speed their way to his mystery’s resolution.
Throughout the book, Synnott skillfully intertwines Irvine’s story with his own expedition’s progress, while highlighting some of his fellow travelers’ stories. He also discusses the physiological effects of altitude, the development and use of supplemental oxygen, the environmental impacts of Everest tourism, and the challenges of filming at an elevation where altitude plays havoc on bodies and equipment. As in his previous book, the author’s writing comes alive when he recounts life on the mountain, including low visibility and high winds, along with his determination to find answers ... id Synnott and his team solve mountaineering’s greatest mystery? No spoilers here, but this is a must-read for outdoor enthusiasts and readers of Everest and exploration history.
Synnott, weaves back and forth between the early climbing pioneers’ experiences and his 2019 expedition, harrowing in its own right. A gifted storyteller, he proves firsthand the irresistible lure and perilous dangers of climbing Mount Everest.
