Climbing High

After the trip to see Everest with year 9 and the KS4/5 students I wanted to know more about the disaster, and what happened.  Films often take liberties with the truth taking a back seat to the spectacle, and due to the tragic nature of the story some aspects cannot be 100% accurate as the only people who know what happened lost their lives in climb.
Ms Carman told me of this book Climbing High the day after the trip, she thoroughly recommended it and suggested I pick it up from the library.  To be honest, I haven't used the library much, my mistake really, and I should try to make better use of it this next half term, though I do have several books waiting to be read at home.

So, the book.  It follows the disaster through the eyes of Lene Gammelgaard, the first Danish woman to summit Everest.  This was part of her process of coming to terms with what happened and follows a diary format charting her arrival in Nepal, through the preparation climbs from Base Camp to the summit attempt and subsequent disaster.
It is very much a first person account, if Lene doesn't experience it then we learn what she knows, which is often brief pieces of information, highlighting at times how alone you could be on the top of the world.
It's impossible not to feel for her, and the others on the expeditions whilst reading the account, especially knowing what has happened, and that for some people she is writing about their last days.
If you've seen the film then you will already know what happens, if you are interested to build a wider picture of what happened on this fateful climb then this book is certainly worth taking the time to read, and with it being available from the school library it shouldn't be hard to find.  If you do take the time to read it then post your thoughts in the comments section, you may even like to write your own review which could be shared with your English teacher.  Or if you have recently read another Geography themed booked email me a review and I will share it on here, and you can earn house points and certificates.

Climbing High Good Reads Reviews