- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (Oct 15 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312194501
- ISBN-13: 978-0312194505
- Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 13.8 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 118 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#778,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #89 in Books > History > Europe > Switzerland
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"To experience the Eiger one can climb the mountain, stand in the graveyard near the base of the North Wall, or read The Climb Up To Hell. Jack Olsen's account of the ill-fated 1957 mountaineering expedition is a chronicle so graphic that it will cause a visceral response in those who read it." --Ruth Anne Kocour, author of Facing the Extreme
"This account of the most dramatic mountain rescue there has ever been is accurate enough to satisfy any mountaineer, and yet simple enough to enthrall anyone like myself who does most of his mountaineering from the bottom." --David Howarth, author of We Die Alone and D-Day: The Sixth of June, 1944
"Of all the stories of the Eiger there is only one tale which combines extreme foolhardiness, mystery and the unsurpassed courage of men of many different nations who tried . . . to save four lives. How well Olsen has succeeded." --Christopher Brasher, British journalist and Olympic Gold Medal Winner
"Olsen's interesting account reads like a novel." --Library Journal
"One of the best accounts of true high mountain adventure ever written." --Trevanian, bestselling author of The Eiger Sanction
"One of the most dramatic rescues in mountaineering history." --Jim Wickwire, Everest climber and coauthor of Addicted to Danger
"This account of the most dramatic mountain rescue there has ever been is accurate enough to satisfy any mountaineer, and yet simple enough to enthrall anyone like myself who does most of his mountaineering from the bottom." --David Howarth, author of We Die Alone and D-Day: The Sixth of June, 1944
"Of all the stories of the Eiger there is only one tale which combines extreme foolhardiness, mystery and the unsurpassed courage of men of many different nations who tried . . . to save four lives. How well Olsen has succeeded." --Christopher Brasher, British journalist and Olympic Gold Medal Winner
"Olsen's interesting account reads like a novel." --Library Journal
"One of the best accounts of true high mountain adventure ever written." --Trevanian, bestselling author of The Eiger Sanction
"One of the most dramatic rescues in mountaineering history." --Jim Wickwire, Everest climber and coauthor of Addicted to Danger
Book Description
In the heart of the Swiss Alps stand the three majestic peaks of the Bernese Oberland, Europe's most famous mountain range. The highest, at 13,638 feet, is the Jungfrau. Next is the Mönch, at 13,465 feet. But it is the smallest, the Eiger, rising 13,038 feet above sea level, that is by far the deadliest. Called a "living" mountain for its constantly changing conditions-unpredictable weather, disintegrating limestone surfaces, and continuously falling rock and ice-its mile-high north wall is perhaps the most dangerous climb in the world. And that may be just what beckons elite Alpinists to scale the treacherous peak against the odds.
In 1957, nearly forty years before the well-known Mount Everest tragedy, two teams of confident climbers set out to summit the north wall of the Eiger Mountain. Not long into their journey, onlookers could tell that the four men were headed for disaster. Soon rescue teams from all over Europe raced toward the Eiger-yet only one of the four climbers survived to face unfounded international accusations. In a story as fascinating as any novel, Jack Olsen creates a riveting account of daring adventure, heroic rescue, and one of the most baffling mysteries in the history of mountain climbing.
In 1957, nearly forty years before the well-known Mount Everest tragedy, two teams of confident climbers set out to summit the north wall of the Eiger Mountain. Not long into their journey, onlookers could tell that the four men were headed for disaster. Soon rescue teams from all over Europe raced toward the Eiger-yet only one of the four climbers survived to face unfounded international accusations. In a story as fascinating as any novel, Jack Olsen creates a riveting account of daring adventure, heroic rescue, and one of the most baffling mysteries in the history of mountain climbing.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Fritz von Almen, thirty-nine years old, serious of mien, conservative of dress, walked onto a tiny side porch of his family's hotel, 6,700 feet up in the Swiss Alps, and sat in front of a swivel-mounted pair of binoculars aimed at a towering mountain wall across the meadows. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Fritz von Almen, thirty-nine years old, serious of mien, conservative of dress, walked onto a tiny side porch of his family's hotel, 6,700 feet up in the Swiss Alps, and sat in front of a swivel-mounted pair of binoculars aimed at a towering mountain wall across the meadows. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
True-Crime Whodunnit on a Mountain,
By elcajonfarms (Lafayette, California United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Climb Up to Hell (Paperback)
This is a fast-moving account of a true and avoidable mountaineering accident and the ensuing rescue efforts. The author holds back the real story about the apparent culprit (assuming there is one) until the very end. Fans of classic mountaineering literature written by technically experienced mountaineers will not find everything they're looking for here. Those looking for a good read will.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real page-turner,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Climb Up to Hell (Paperback)
A friend of mine is a big fan of Jack Olsen, and suggested that I read this book first as I'm interested in climbing. Since reading it, I can't wait to read his other books. Its unfair to dismiss this book simply because Olson is a true-crime writer - why does this genre get such a bad wrap? Not only is it an exciting account of the events, but you begin to feel for all the people involved. I was so interested in the lives of the rescued/rescuers that I did a search on them right after reading the book and learned as much about them as I could. I highly reccomend this book.
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Read Up Through Hell,
This review is from: The Climb Up to Hell (Paperback)
A great story, poorly told. I am an avid outdoorsman and reader; the subject matter of this book is very interesting. Unfortunately, Mr. Olsen wrote this book in a time when it seemed to be fasionable to dazzle one's audience with one's vocabulary. I have not read any of Mr. Olsen's other books, but hopefully he has matured to a less snobbish style in his later works. If you are interested in mountaineering history and don't mind being confronted with an author's "look how smart I am" delivery, read this book. Otherwise, you too may be put off as I was.
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