The Hill [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ed Hommer (Author), Daniel Paisner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

In December 1981, a small charter plane carrying four men crashed into the side of Mount McKinley. For five days, during sub-zero temperatures and white-out conditions, the men awaited rescue in the twisted remains of the tiny Cessna airplane. Two did not survive. The Hill is the extraordinary depiction of these events, told by Ed Hommer, the planes pilot. But The Hill goes far beyond mere adventure. It is also a memoir of the 20 years it took Hommer to recover from the accident, which occurred when he was only 27. Left without his lower legs, Hommer spiraled into despair and alcoholism, even losing touch with the daughter whose image helped keep him alive during his ordeal. Seventeen years later, Hommer decided to turn his life around. Using state-of-the-art prosthetics, Hommer re-learned to run, cycle, and mountain climb in preparation for his ultimate challenge: climbing the mountain that almost killed him. He emerged victoriousin 1999, on his second attempt, Ed Hommer reached the summit of Mount McKinley. Ed Hommers story is intriguing, complex, and ultimately uplifting. It was the focus of a Dateline NBC episode which aired several times due to popular demand, and interest in his story continues to increase: the Discovery Channel is filming a documentary of Ed Hommers story that is set to air in the summer of 2001, and Dateline NBC plans to film him on his next goalclimbing Mount Everest in September 2001, within weeks of The Hills release.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Since he was a boy, Ed Hommer had dreamed of becoming a bush pilot in Alaska, but just as his wish was coming true at the age of 27, a nightmare harshly intervened. In December 1981, while flying a chartered plane, Hommer and three passengers crashed into the side of Mount McKinley. For five days the men huddled in the shell of the plane enduring serious injuries and subzero temperatures while fierce storms thwarted attempts to rescue them. By the time they were reached, two of the men were dead, including Hommer's brother-in-law Dan. Hommer ended up losing both of his feet above the ankles to frostbite. And, for a time, he also lost his will to live, succumbing to bitterness and alcoholism, even turning away from his wife and young daughter, who was born just days after his rescue. But after realizing that "Flying was as much a part of me as my legs," he decided to bury his self-pity and get back into life, working to earn his license again and eventually becoming a full-time pilot for American Airlines.

But flying again was only half the battle. He needed to confront the mountain that almost killed him in order to feel whole again. So, using high-tech prosthetics, Hommer began running and cycling to get in shape in order to climb Mount McKinley, a feat he achieved in 1999 after one failed attempt. In this inspiring memoir, he writes honestly about all that he lost and gained during the 20 years it took to fully recover from the crash. "I was born into the outdoors," he writes, and it was to the outdoors that he returned in order to be born again. --Shawn Carkonen

From Library Journal

In December 1981, Hommer was piloting a charter plane with three passengers on a sightseeing trip over Mount McKinley when it crashed high on the mountain. Although the location was known and reachable, weather prevented rescue for five days. Two of the passengers died, including his brother-in-law. The crash claimed Hommer's feet and destroyed his marriage. For the next several years he sank into alcoholism and despair, even losing touch with the daughter born just before the crash. Eventually, he turned his life around, and he is now a pilot for American Airlines. Advanced prosthetics allowed him to walk and run, and in 2001 he climbed Mount McKinley. Written in a casual, first-person style, this book focuses mostly on the rigors of the crash and the stresses and exaltations Hommer experienced in his climbs up McKinley one unsuccessful and the other to the top. Hommer was the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary this year. His book is most appropriate for adventure and mountain-climbing collections, although libraries that collect inspirational and motivational materials may also be interested. Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Press; illustrated edition edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579544495
• ISBN-13: 978-1579544492
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,817,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Give Up., September 24, 2002

By 

"[e-mail]" (Marion, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hill (Hardcover)

I hope that anyone who knows a person who is struggling with depression, illness or seemingly overwhelming difficulties will give them this book. Just as a book helped to inspire Ed to move on from the tragedies in his life, I believe this book will encourage and inspire. I knew Ed at a time in his life when I feared for him, feared for the darkness that I thought might overtake him, and how thrilled I was and thankful when I heard about how he had conquered the darkness. How proud we all have been of his accomplishments, and what he has given to others despite his challenges. Ed is victorious, because he died doing what he loved; the darkness, the tragedy, failed to do him in. His story will keep him alive, as it inspires others.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Against All Odds, December 6, 2002

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hill (Hardcover)

I'm glad Ed Hommer got the chance to write his inspirational story before his untimely death on Mt. Rainier September 23rd of this year. In spite of the fact that Ed had a co-writer, his own voice rings very clear in this book. There is something very appealing in his modesty, sometimes almost a childlike idealism, and his wrenching appraisals/reappraisals of himself.

Ed grew up in modest circumstances, somewhat of an outsider with not much enthusiasm for school. Early on, he developed a fascination for all things Alaska, seeing it as a Last Frontier and he hung on to his dream. His next goal was to become a pilot, and I was impressed with the adversity he overcame to reach his goal. He had no money, only a high school education and ended up being a pilot for American Airlines.

He finally made it to Alaska, a land he loved forever, and thought he had the world by the tail with a part time job as a bush pilot, his hippie chick girlfriend--the beauteous Sandy, and a baby on the way when disaster struck. He took three passengers (one being his brother-in-law) on a sight seeing jaunt and crashed high up on Mt. McKinley. Two (including the brother-in-law) were injured fatally, but Ed and another passenger were not hurt too badly initially. Then a storm front set in, and would-be rescuers could not reach them for five days. Ed's recounting of these hellish five days is harrowing. The weather was fierce, and by the time the rescuers got there, the two living victims were frostbitten badly. Ed lost both feet above the ankle.

He very honestly admits he was in a tailspin for a long time. He was besieged by legalities he didn't understand, he had a terrible time with the Veteran's Administration who was underwriting most of his massive medical bills including a 3-1/2 month stay in the hospital, physical therapy, and prosthetic devices. He withdrew from life, became apathetic, drank his breakfast, lunch and then some. His marriage suffered irreparable harm. Part of his problem was the miserable time he had with his prosthesis.

Once he attached himself to a goal, he was seemingly unstoppable. He made up his mind he would fly again; he not only achieved the goal, he went back to work. Then he decided he wouldn't get closure until he had successfully summitted Mt. McKinley despite his artificial feet and lower legs. He did it in two tries. Though Ed Hommer didn't care about material goals, he set his sights high and was a miracle of achievement.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Minnesota, November 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hill (Hardcover)

I feel that the review by Wisconsin was inaccurate, and only looked at one side of the story. It is true and sad that Ed lost his marriage and his relationship suffered with his children due to his climbing accident. However, I knew Ed and know his children personally. I saw many wonderful, loved filled encounters with his children. Although Ed loved the mountains, his children were the number one thing in his life.

The book did pretty good job of portraying the events of Ed's life. However, what did not come through in the book was Ed's complete love of life, family and friendships. When you spoke with Ed, you were captivated. When he left you, he left you feeling you could climb Mount Everest. It is this type of enthusiasm that touched millions of people around the globe. It is this type of enthusiasm that has fitted other amputees with prosthetic devices, allowing them to live a productive, preamputation state. It is this type of enthusiasm that keeps his foundation, High Exposure, alive...when he is not. It is this type of enthusiasm that makes me extremely proud to call him a friend.

The Hill is a book, nothing more. A short reference of a much larger story. The book captures only a snipit of the man Ed Hommer was, and still is in many hearts. I encourage all readers to take what they can from this book, and not be jaded by personal disparagements.