For anyone addicted to books about Himalayan or mountain climbing adventures, I would recommend this book. There are interesting descriptions of the lower terrain on the climb that are usually not included in this sort of book. And I don't knoew of any other books describing a climb of the beautiful Nanda Devi.
But this particular expedition was rife with interpersonal conflicts and rivalries, and erratic behavior of team members. I felt that Roskelly talked way too much about this, and was quite judgmental of most of the climbers. Certainly this kind of friction and lack of teamwork occurs in other expeditions, although I doubt that it is as prevalent as what Roskelly describes in his expedition. I would much rather have read more about the climb - technical aspects, views, etc. Still it gives a picture of at least one climb that you rarely see - I would not take this experience as an example of every climbing expedition.
But this particular expedition was rife with interpersonal conflicts and rivalries, and erratic behavior of team members. I felt that Roskelly talked way too much about this, and was quite judgmental of most of the climbers. Certainly this kind of friction and lack of teamwork occurs in other expeditions, although I doubt that it is as prevalent as what Roskelly describes in his expedition. I would much rather have read more about the climb - technical aspects, views, etc. Still it gives a picture of at least one climb that you rarely see - I would not take this experience as an example of every climbing expedition.
***** This author's true story of the tragic 1967 expedtion to climb Nanda Devi a 26,645 foot peak in India's remote frontier. A story of strong emotion, confilicting ambitions, death and victory, desire and regret.
