Kasischke's book follows his real-life dance with death .... It is a thrilling tale of danger, courage, and love. With beautiful illustrations and thoughtful descriptions, the book is a loving ode to his wife Sandy and to his passion for climbing.
Kasischke offers a unique perspective ... the voice of experience. Kasischke's perspective and analysis of what happened ... may shock those who have relied on Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, as the most accurate account of what happened .... Readers will be drawn into this thrilling book, which combines the author's obvious expertise with a page-turning style and a knack for vivid descriptions. You'll feel like you are there with him in a tent that's barely holding together in a raging storm at 26,000 feet, and you'll perhaps get a glimpse of what courage and fortitude means in a life or death situation ... Readers will truly understand the hard choices that were faced on Everest.
This riveting book examines what went wrong before and during the expedition ... including a series of ill-advised decisions just below the summit .... Kasischke also examines what holds true when all else fails, when survival is no longer likely. He offers a fascinatingly personal look at what he believes saved him. Ultimately, this is a survival story about love —of mountaineering, of God, and of the deep and abiding bond between a husband and wife.
Kasischke chronicles the events not only to recover some truth from the sensationalism surrounding that fateful day, but also to share a deeply personal story of the enduring power of love. ... Kasischke attributes his survival to the promises he made to 'live a story he can tell,' and 'come back home' .... After The Wind is decidedly genuine in the construction ... and Kasischke presents his story humbly as one man's experience of a horrific day
★ 2014-07-09
In 1996, the worst disaster in recorded Mt. Everest climbing history occurred when, due to a combination of factors, eight people died on a single expedition. This memoir is Kasischke's personal account of how he survived.Hours before the tragedy, Kasischke's reservations about the expedition were mounting. Too many people were climbing the mountain at once, and despite some unnecessary delays, the leader, Rob Hall, had continued to lead the climb, although the team wouldn't be able to reach the top and return down before nightfall—a decision so poor that Kasischke and others blame it for the climbers' deaths rather than the treacherous storm they faced that night. Kasischke is alive to tell his tale because he chose to turn around at a critical juncture, and he admits that he shouldn't have even gone that far. He was trapped for days once the storm hit. The author dramatically recounts being frozen, dehydrated and snow blind and says that he relied on his love for his wife and his faith to get him through. It seems that Kasischke has chosen to relive this nightmare in order to come to grips with it and to honor those who didn't make it, as well as to add a new perspective to a tale most people know via journalist Jon Krakauer, whose very presence, Kasischke implies, played an inadvertent role in what happened. Kasischke, however, never comes across as bitter or recriminatory but simply honest. He also pays tribute to his wife, Sandy, who, despite not being physically there, was a very real presence for him throughout the ordeal. The hand-drawn illustrations by Jane Cardinal also help the reader visualize the people and environs.A vivid, intimate memoir that, with great clarity and attention to detail, tells an unforgettable survival story.
"A thorough analysis of the 1996 Everest disaster... and the best preparation for my Everest assent.” — Jean Pavillard, IFMGA Swiss Mountain Guide
“Kasischke’s account provides an eye-opening look at the perils and extreme conditions on Everest. Evocative illustrations by Jane Cardinal further enhance the text, and includes maps and time lines.” — Publishers Weekly
“This riveting book examines what went wrong before and during the expedition ... including a series of ill-advised decisions just below the summit .... Kasischke also examines what holds true when all else fails, when survival is no longer likely. He offers a fascinatingly personal look at what he believes saved him. Ultimately, this is a survival story about love —of mountaineering, of God, and of the deep and abiding bond between a husband and wife.” — The US Review of Books
“Kasischke offers a unique perspective ... the voice of experience. Kasischke’s perspective and analysis of what happened ... may shock those who have relied on Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, as the most accurate account of what happened .... Readers will be drawn into this thrilling book, which combines the author’s obvious expertise with a page-turning style and a knack for vivid descriptions. You’ll feel like you are there with him in a tent that’s barely holding together in a raging storm at 26,000 feet, and you’ll perhaps get a glimpse of what courage and fortitude means in a life or death situation ... Readers will truly understand the hard choices that were faced on Everest.” — New York Book Festival
“Kasischke’s book follows his real-life dance with death .... It is a thrilling tale of danger, courage, and love. With beautiful illustrations and thoughtful descriptions, the book is a loving ode to his wife Sandy and to his passion for climbing." — BlueInk Reviews
