This is yet another book related to Mount Everest (I've gone on some kind of Everest reading rampage since coming back from Nepal in November). Left for Dead follows the story of Beck Weathers, a survivor of the 1996 Everest tragedy, as he rebuilds his life - or at least that's how the book is promoted. In realtiy it is more about the breakdown and rebuilding of a marriage centred around mountain climbing.For those that don't know, Beck Weathers was trapped on Mount Everest near the Summit in 1996 when the infamous storm hit. He was close to death when the rescue party made the decision to leave him. Miraculously, he woke the next day and made the journey back to high camp on his own - all while badly frostbitten and almost blind. He was later rescued from the mountain in a daring helicopter evacuation. Weathers ultimately lost his nose and both hands from frostbite.
This story is essentially not about his struggle to deal with the mental and physical scars of what happened on the mountain, but about his struggle to save his marriage. Weathers, a sufferer of depression, took up mountain climbing as a way of escape. Unfortunately, it also meant neglecting his family and marriage. By the time he went to Everest in 1996 his wife, Peach, was ready to leave him.
The book is written from the perspective of Weathers as well as his close friends and family, including Peach. This gives us a first hand account of the mental scars the family suffered. The children were badly hurt by their father's neglect while Peach is filled with such bitterness that I wondered if the marriage was still intact today. It is a unique read - the first account I've seen of the effect mountain climbing can have on the families of those that pursue the sport.
Overall, I think this is essential reading for any mountain climber. It just shouldn't be marketed as a story about Everest.
No comments:
Post a Comment