K2

Starred review from October 12, 2009
Facing the world's second-highest peak, the Karakoram Range's K2 in Northern Pakistan, mountain climbers encounter incredible dangers, including a huge serac (an overhanging glacier), snow-obscured crevasses, whiteouts and avalanches that have killed even accomplished mountaineers. With clarity and compassion, renowned peak-scaler Viesturs recounts campaigns up K2's 28,000-plus feet from the late 1930s through the tragic 2008 season that saw 11 climbers die in the space of 36 hours. An American master of the climb, Viesturs shares secrets, inside jokes, history and lore such as the "psychological protection" afforded by clipping onto rope or handrails, the climbers' habit of "looking up to see if anything's coming your way," and the "miracle" of "one man with a single ax and a grip of steel stopping the otherwise fatal fall of six teammates and of himself." Admitting to "a disturbing fanaticism" that's driven himself and others to tackle the world's fourteen 8000-foot-plus peaks, Viesturs's you-are-there narration communicates effortlessly the enormous effort, and high adventure, of scaling K2.

September 15, 2009
In August 2008, 11 mountaineers died in quick succession on the slopes of K2, the worlds second-tallest mountain. Beginning with that catastrophe, veteran climber Viesturs undertakes with coauthor Robertsa sprawling examination of K2 and the generations of adventurers who have tried to reach its summit. Viesturs artfully combines his memories with technical information and historical narrative in an effort to understand the more spectacular tragedies and triumphs on K2. Drawing on other climbers memoirs and interviews as well, Viesturs juxtaposes their experiences with his own in vivid anecdotal passages. His scattershot approach can be overwhelming, as he simultaneously relates the stories of many different expeditions from different eras. But his amiable voice and strong opinions tie the pieces together. At his best, Viesturs falls into a rhythm as he flashes back and forth through history without diminishing his overarching theme, as during his running discussion of interpersonal squabbles on the mountain. More than anything, he captures the obsessive passion that has driven climbers up the slopes of K2 for decades, unchanged by time and technology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)