Dark summit : the extraordinary true story of Everest's most controversial season

Everest -- the highest mountain in the world and the ultimate climbing challenge. In 2006, 11 people died attempting to reach the summit, the most fatalities since 1996. But unlike 1996, 2006 saw no surprise blizzard, only the constant dangers posed by unstable ice, merciless cold, thin air -- and human nature.Nick Heil tells the shocking true stories of David Sharp, a young British solo climber, who was passed by 40 mountaineers as he lay dying on the slopes of the mountain, and Lincoln Hall who was left for dead yet miraculously survived, and asks: what does climbing the world's highest peak really mean for those who take on the challenge? And how far will they go in their single-minded pursuit of the ultimate mountaineering prize? On May 15, 2006, a young British climber named David Sharp lay dying near the top of Mount Everest while forty other climbers walked past him on their way to the summit. A week later, Lincoln Hall, a seasoned Australian climber, was left for dead near the same spot. Hall's death was reported around the world, but the next day he was found alive after spending the night on the upper mountain with no food and no shelter. If David Sharp's death was shocking, it was hardly singular: despite unusually good weather, ten others died attempting to reach the summit that year. In this meticulous inquiry into what went wrong, Nick Heil tells the full story of the deadliest year on Everest since the infamous season of 1996. He introduces Russell Brice, the commercial operator who has done more than anyone to provide access to the summit via the mountain's north side—and who some believe was partly accountable for Sharp's death. As more climbers attempt the summit each year, Heil shows how increasingly risky expeditions and unscrupulous outfitters threaten to turn Everest into a deadly circus. Written by an experienced climber and outdoor writer, *Dark Summit* is both a riveting account of a notorious climbing season and a troubling investigation into whether the pursuit of the ultimate mountaineering prize has spiraled out of control. THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, THE GREATEST PRIZE, THE ULTIMATE PRICE TO PAYEverest - the highest mountain in the world and the ultimate climbing challenge.In 2006, 11 people died attempting to reach the summit, the most fatalities since 1996. But unlike 1996, 2006 saw no surprise blizzard, only the constant dangers posed by unstable ice, merciless cold, thin air - and human nature. Nick Heil tells the shocking true stories of David Sharp, a young British solo climber, who was passed by 40 mountaineers as he lay dying on the slopes of the mountain, and Lincoln Hall who was left for dead yet miraculously survived, and asks: what does climbing the world's highest peak really mean for those who take on the challenge? And how far will they go in their single-minded pursuit of the ultimate mountaineering prize? Everest - The Highest Mountain In The World And The Ultimate Climbing Challenge. In 2006, 11 People Died Attempting To Reach The Summit, The Most Fatalities Since 1996. But Unlike 1996, 2006 Saw No Surprise Blizzard, Only The Constant Dangers Posed By Unstable Ice, Merciless Cold, Thin Air - And Human Nature. Nick Heil Tells The Shocking True Stories Of David Sharp, A Young British Solo Climber, Who Was Passed By 40 Mountaineers As He Lay Dying On The Slopes Of The Mountain, And Lincoln Hall Who Was Left For Dead Yet Miraculously Survived, And Asks: What Does Climbing The World's Highest Peak Really Mean For Those Who Take On The Challenge? And How Far Will They Go In Their Single-minded Pursuit Of The Ultimate Mountaineering Prize? Everest, the world's highest mountain. In 2006, 11 people died trying to reach the summit. These are the shocking stories of David Sharp, a young British climber, passed by 40 mountaineers as he lay dying, and Lincoln Hall, left for dead yet miraculously surviving, and asks: how far will climbers go in pursuing the ultimate mountaineering prize? Tells the stories of David Sharp, a young British solo climber, who was passed by 40 mountaineers as he lay dying on the slopes of the Everest mountain, and Lincoln Hall who was left for dead yet miraculously survived.