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High Adventure (1955)

by Edmund Hillary

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Literatura (Ediciones Desnivel) (141)

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343874,923 (3.95)6
Fear lives among Everest's mighty ice-fluted faces and howls across its razor-sharp crags. Gnawing at reason and enslaving minds, it has killed many and defeated countless others. But in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stared into its dark eye and did not waver. On May 29, they pushed spent bodies and aching lungs past the achievable to pursue the impossible. At a terminal altitude of 29,028 feet, they stood triumphant atop the highest peak in the world. With nimble words and a straightforward style, New Zealand mountaineering legend Hillary recollects the bravery and frustration, the agony and glory that marked his Everest odyssey. From the 1951 expedition that led to the discovery of the Southern Route, through the grueling Himalayan training of 1952, and on to the successful 1953 expedition led by Colonel John Hunt, Hillary conveys in precise language the mountain's unforgiving conditions. In explicit detail he recalls an Everest where chaotic icefalls force costly detours, unstable snow ledges promise to avalanche at the slightest misstep, and brutal weather shifts from pulse-stopping cold to fiendish heat in mere minutes. In defiance of these torturous conditions, Hillary remains enthusiastic and never hesitates in his quest for the summit. Despite the enormity of his and Norgay's achievement, he regards himself, Norgay, and the other members of his expedition as hardworking men, not heroes. And while he never would have reached the top without practiced skill and technical competence, his thrilling memoir speaks first to his admiration of the human drive to explore, to understand, to risk, and to conquer.… (more)
  1. 10
    Man of Everest by Tenzing Norgay (DuncanHill)
    DuncanHill: The two are forever linked.
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» See also 6 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)
check edition carefully
  danacharron | Jan 18, 2023 |
Afar áhugaverð frásögn um fyrstu gönguna á topp Everest ( )
  Glumsson | Nov 30, 2020 |
Each time I pick this book up and read it again (it's 70 years old!) it gets better and better. How did those guys do it? Look at the photos, see what they are wearing on Everest, they even had to make most of their own climbing gear themselves or use second hand army surplus to get the gear they needed. No climbing shops in those days, climbers were regarded as nut-cases. ( )
  Novak | Aug 3, 2019 |
Edmund Hillary's "High Adventure: The True Story of the First Ascent of Everest" is a bit like a Primus stove at high altitude. It's slow to get going and sputters along for a bit but once it really gets cooking everything is good.

Hillary writes very simply but effectively of various climbs in the Himalayas, including the first ascent of Everest by himself and Tenzing Norgay. The Everest ascent itself is pretty riveting... the other climbs aren't quite as interesting, but why would they be? ( )
  amerynth | Nov 16, 2013 |
For anyone with even a passing interest in mountaineering, the first ascent of the highest peak in the world holds a certain fascination. Hillary's account of this feat is modest and factual without being dry. Even knowing the outcome, I was still cheering the climbers on to the very end. A must read for all armchair climbers. ( )
  cazfrancis | Jul 17, 2011 |
Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (13 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Hillary, EdmundAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Djurkouic, GeorgeIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Spark, A.Mapssecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Dedication
TO

HARRY AYRES

for his superb mastery of snow and ice

TO

ERIC SHIPTON

for his inspiration and unquenchable spirit

TO

JOHN HUNT

for his courage and singleness of purpose

AND

TO MY OLD FRIEND

GEORGE LOWE

for so many years of cheerful comradeship
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I was sixteen before I ever saw a mountain.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Fear lives among Everest's mighty ice-fluted faces and howls across its razor-sharp crags. Gnawing at reason and enslaving minds, it has killed many and defeated countless others. But in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stared into its dark eye and did not waver. On May 29, they pushed spent bodies and aching lungs past the achievable to pursue the impossible. At a terminal altitude of 29,028 feet, they stood triumphant atop the highest peak in the world. With nimble words and a straightforward style, New Zealand mountaineering legend Hillary recollects the bravery and frustration, the agony and glory that marked his Everest odyssey. From the 1951 expedition that led to the discovery of the Southern Route, through the grueling Himalayan training of 1952, and on to the successful 1953 expedition led by Colonel John Hunt, Hillary conveys in precise language the mountain's unforgiving conditions. In explicit detail he recalls an Everest where chaotic icefalls force costly detours, unstable snow ledges promise to avalanche at the slightest misstep, and brutal weather shifts from pulse-stopping cold to fiendish heat in mere minutes. In defiance of these torturous conditions, Hillary remains enthusiastic and never hesitates in his quest for the summit. Despite the enormity of his and Norgay's achievement, he regards himself, Norgay, and the other members of his expedition as hardworking men, not heroes. And while he never would have reached the top without practiced skill and technical competence, his thrilling memoir speaks first to his admiration of the human drive to explore, to understand, to risk, and to conquer.

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