Customer Reviews

A Most Hostile Mountain : Re-Creating the Duke of Abruzzi's Historic Expedition on Mount St. Elias

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This book is really two books: one, a biography and story about the Duke of Abruzzi and his expedition (in the early 1900's) to climb Mt. St. Elias in Alaska; and two, the author's story of his own attempt to climb the same mountain in the 1990's. I found the material on the Duke to be fascinating. When the book switched over to the author's own story however, I usually lost interest.

In his attempt to do justice to the historical accomplishments of the Duke, and to try to experience the mountain on some of the same terms, the author tries to climb the mountain without some the benefits of the technological advances since the Duke's time. He eschews airplanes, for example, and sails a small boat from Seattle up to Alaska then hikes all the way in from the ocean to the base of the mountain. Sounds like the basis for a great story, right? In my opinion, it doesn't live up to its potential.

First, the author's claim to be doing without the technological marvels of our times has a lot of holes in it. Yes, he uses no GPS system to navigate his boat to Alaska; but he does use Loran -- and there are several other similar examples (clothing, boots, etc.). Second, I found his longwinded soul-searching and attempts at self-analysis tiresome and I do not think it added much to the reader's experience. Third, I found his treatment of his partners to be downright insulting. My sense is that he really didn't like his partners much and they didn't like him. I myself would certainly not want to climb with this man. I think I would have loved to climb with the Duke.

Most seriously, I lost interest in his story mostly because I thought his failure to climb the the mountain was largely due to his own poor plans and decisions. He underestimates the amount of food they will need on the mountain (they almost starve to death) but he does bring a large, heavy video camera along to record the climbing. In my opinion, a stupid and vain decision. I doubt very much if the Duke would have made these kinds of mistakes!

When I read a book such as this, I want to admire the people in it, or at least feel that I have learned something significant from the actions of the protagonists. Well, I certainly learned a lot about the Duke and gained an admiration him, but I certainly did not admire the actions of the author; nor do I believe I learned anything of much value from his story.

Another brilliant book by Waterman. Even if you aren't interested in mountain climbing this is a fascinating book. Waterman has the ability to reveal his heart and soul in his writing in a very eloquent way. This, combined with his skill at describing the world around him makes for a great book.

When Jonathan Waterman decided to recreate the climb of Duke Abruzzi's climb to Mount St. Elias, he knew he was in for one of the most difficult climbs ever. While most expiditions have their supplies airdropped, Waterman sailed more than a thousand miles with everything that he needed, or so he thought. An adventure story turns quickly into survival. Waterman also gives a great account of the Duke Of Abruzzi's life and his passion of mountain climbing despite his attachment to royalty.

A Most Hostile Mountain was about a mountain climber, the author, who was addicted to mountaineering and alpinism. He had reached the peaks of many Alaskan mountains and was getting settled to climb one last mountain. While on Mt. Fairweather, he spotted the nearby Mt. St. Elias a few miles away. He was captivated by the mountain's beauty and so he decided as the last mountain he would ever climb, he would summit Mt. St. Elias. He needed a partner, so he called up his friend, Jeff, to accompany him to the peak. They packed up their supplies and set off in a yacht to the mountain. Jonathan Waterman also compares his journey with the Duke of Abruzzi's trip. The Duke was the first one to reach the top of Mt. St. Elias, also called Yasetaca, and because of his trip, he made Italy famous. The Duke also traveled by ship to the mountain with his whole team of climbers, this was in the early 1900s, with heavy equiptment and luxuries a climber today would never bring on his or her trip. So as the Duke faces many difficulties on his climb, Jonathan also faces difficulties physically and mentally as well.

I thought the book was interesting in the way that I've never read a book that was more like a journal of someone's trip. Also, I never knew that much about mountain climbing before I read the book, but this book taught some important skills in mountaineering. Furthurmore, I like how Jonathan Waterman tells the real truth about people and their weaknesses while in a stressed and uncomfortable condition. The daily routines of a mountaineer is reavealed in this book and I can see why mountain climbing is such a difficult sport and why alpinists are so addicted to this hobby of theirs.

My favorite is when Jonathan and Jeff starts to get irritated at each other and accidents starts to happen. For example, when Jonathan mistakened the yellow gaderade bottle as Jeff's kindness towards him, but really, it was Jeff's bathroom wastes. Also, when Jeff and Jonathan first landed on the shores of Yasetaca, the swarm of mosquitos came buzzing at the two climbers and tried to suck the climbers dry. Desperately, Jonathan sets up their tent and so the two victims hide in the tent. Inside, the climbers watch as the mosquitos try to get past the mosquito netting but the bugs get their needles stuck in the holes. Joyfully, Jeff and Jonathan pull the needles off of the mosquitos as the insects continued to struggle. A good book for the reality reader.

orginal, provacative, playful . Not the usual for a mountaineering story that could have been a tedious epic. Two different men, 2 different times, two different backgrounds, but one goal in common over the years, elusive St.Elias. Two different ends for two different men.
Refreshingly funny at the most unexpected of times.