4 out of 4 stars
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The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro is the true story of a seven year period in David Mauro’s life in which he travels from the lowest point in his life to the highest point on Earth. Mauro falls into mountain climbing almost by accident. His brother in law was making a documentary that followed a mixed team of experienced climbers and non-climbers as they attempt to climb Denali. As Mauro’s marriage had ended, he took up the invitation to climb the high summit of North America. As his relationship breakup had taken a heavy emotional toll on him, David set out to climb Denali to try to find his sense of self belief again.
The Altitude Journals is a thoroughly enjoyable read. He doesn’t dwell too much on the technical side of climbing itself, so you needn’t be an avid climber yourself to enjoy this book. I found his descriptions of the physical conditioning he needed to put his body through for each peak fascinating. I had no idea that each mountain would require a different type of body strength and a different set of skills to summit successfully.
I particularly liked the way that Mauro weaved his personal life through each climb and I found his differing reasons for climbing each peak compelling. He is thought provoking about the people who live on the mountains and whose way of life is simultaneously supported and changed forever by the climbing industry. Mauro is interested in those around him and the other party members’ back stories and motivations to climb were appealing to me. I liked the way Mauro doesn’t romanticise each climb, he is brutally honest about the dangers climbers face.
I rate The Altitude Journals 4 out of 4 stars. I found Mauro an engaging companion and I was invested in the story. I felt every victory, no matter how tiny, with Mauro along the way. I enjoyed how he portrayed the camaraderie among the climbers. Often they were total strangers until they met up for the expeditions. They quickly have to learn to trust each other with their lives and work as a team as they climb and summit successfully.
This book will appeal to anyone with a love of outdoors and adventure. I learned a lot about each peak and the local people around the peaks from the book. Does Mauro summit Everest? Read The Altitude Journals and find out!
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The Altitude Journals
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