The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier by Jim Davidson

Nov 25, 2012 Andy Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good read about based on a 1992 climbing accident where two climbers fell through a snow bridge while descending Mt Rainier. One of the climbers is killed and the other goes through the lifesaving efforts, then the grief and then his self rescue out of the crevasse

The authors, one of whom is the surviving climber, do a great job of giving the background and life of both climbers before the accident. By the time the accident occurs you feel that you know both the climbers and their passion for...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Mazola1 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every year, two or three people die on Mount Rainier. In 1992, Mike Price was one of those people. To the world at large, his death went mostly unnoticed, another routine climbing fatality, no doubt recorded only in his hometown paper and perhaps the Seattle media. To his climbing partner, Jim Davidson, however, Mike's death and the accident that caused it were life altering events.

Davidson's book, The Ledge, tells the story of how he survived the accident and what he learned about himself from...more Every year, two or three people die on Mount Rainier. In 1992, Mike Price was one of those people. To the world at large, his death went mostly unnoticed, another routine climbing fatality, no doubt recorded only in his hometown paper and perhaps the Seattle media. To his climbing partner, Jim Davidson, however, Mike's death and the accident that caused it were life altering events.

Davidson's book, The Ledge, tells the story of how he survived the accident and what he learned about himself from that experience. Although the book recounts a rather unusual accident in somewhat precise and technical terms, it nonetheless tells a universal tale of a person finding the inner resources to confront and overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Jim Davidson was an avid and moderately experienced mountaineer. His friend, Mike Price, equally avid about climbing, was more seasoned and technically adept. In the summer of 1992, they set off to climb Mount Rainier, a climb accomplished by hundreds of climbers every year, generally with a few fatalities being recorded each season. The two friends uccessfully summited, and were nearly back when disaster struck. While crossing an unsuspected ice bridge, the ice gave way, and although roped together, Mike and Jim both plunged into the depths of a hidden crevasse.

These accidents are among the most feared by climbers. In 1981, the famed American climber, Jim Wickwire, was pulled into a crevasse on Denali, when his climbing partner, Chris Kerrebrock, fell in. Kerrebrock was wedged so tightly into the crevasse that although Kerrebrock survived the fall, Wickwire was unable to rescue him, and he died on the mountain. The haunting story of this accident is one of the most vivid parts of Wickwire's book, Addicted To Danger.

Davidson and Price narrowly escaped this fate, known as getting "corked." Fortuitously, their fall was broken about 80 feet down by a small ice ledge. Davidson was aware that if the ledge gave way, or if he fell from it, he would no doubt get corked, and die an unpleasant death. Davidson was not seriously injured, but Price was near death at the end of the fall, probably having suffered a broken neck. Davidson found himself 80 feet away from the surface, confronted with an almost vertical ice wall with an unstable overhanging ledge at the top, a dead or dying partner he was reluctant to abandon, and almost none of the equipment necessary to undertake such a climb. The climb was techically more demanding than any he had ever successfully completed. Nonetheless, somehow he found the inner strength and resources to get out.

Davidson tells the story of the climb in great detail, recounting both how he solved the technical difficulties of climbing an 80 foot vertical ice wall with just six ice screws and some rope, and how he dealt with the anxiety, fear, guilt and hopelessness that were obstacles as great, if not greater, than the physical obstacles he faced. Some readers have found the technical details to be tedious and unnecessary. I think however that they are necessary to set the proper tone and to tell Davidson's story accurately. His climb up the wall was not accomplished in a single leap, rather it was a series of small and stressful steps, painfully accomplished, with the outcome always in doubt. He had to think, plan, risk and execute each inch of the way up. The story of how each inch was gained in the face of great psychological and physical difficulties is made more understandable by this detail, even for readers without a full understanding of the equipment and mechanics of how Davidson accomplished that.

Davidson wrote The Ledge years later, after he had had time to reflect on the lessons he learned on the ledge. The ledge is a great metaphor for the often uncertain and capricious nature of life. It was positioned in just the right way to break the climbers' fall, but Davidson lived while Price was killed. Had Davidson had one less ice screw, he probably could not have climbed out of the crevasse, but if he had walked an inch to his right or left, the accident may never had happened. These are the types of situations that tease and torment us with thoughts about fate, luck, and chance.

But in the end, Davidson confronted what could have been a fatal challenge, and rather than giving up or being discouraged, decided to fight for his life. Each of us at one time or another will find ourselves in a similar tight spot. Reflecting on the lessons of The Ledge may help us to find a way out. For that alone, this book is worth reading.

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Nov 10, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, survival

Book Description

The Ledge tells the story of Jim Davidson and Mike Price’s ascent of Mt. Rainier and the accident that left them trapped 80 feet down a crevasse after a snow bridge collapsed (Price did not survive). The first part of the book sets the stage for the fall into the crevasse and provides background on Davidson and Price. We then move to the heart of the book, which is the ascent of Mt. Rainier (in which Davidson and Price tried a risky new ascent route) and the accident that takes p...more Book Description

The Ledge tells the story of Jim Davidson and Mike Price’s ascent of Mt. Rainier and the accident that left them trapped 80 feet down a crevasse after a snow bridge collapsed (Price did not survive). The first part of the book sets the stage for the fall into the crevasse and provides background on Davidson and Price. We then move to the heart of the book, which is the ascent of Mt. Rainier (in which Davidson and Price tried a risky new ascent route) and the accident that takes place after they summit. As they are descending the mountain, Davidson stepped on a snow bridge that collapsed and plunged him and Price 80-feet into a crevasse. Landing on a small ledge (in what turns out to be a “one in a million” bit of luck), the fall, Price’s death, and Davidson’s extremely technical climb out of the crevasse with limited equipment and under extreme duress occupies about two-thirds of the narrative.

My Thoughts

The Ledge is a fine addition to the mountaineering/survival book canon. Written by Jim Davidson and his co-writer (journalist Kevin Vaughn), The Ledge provides a “you are there” feel that all the best adventure/survival books have. The writing and pacing is first-rate, and I found myself breathless and tense as Davidson dealt with Price’s death, his dawning realization that he had to climb or die, and his subsequent struggle to climb out of the crevasse.

Like all good survival books (such as Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm), The Ledge fills the reader with adrenaline, tension and fear. You really feel drawn into Davidson’s dilemma and struggle as he tries to keep himself together and attempt a climb that he feels is far beyond his capabilities. Davidson doesn’t hold anything back—sharing all his doubts, fears, grief, and despair as well as his strength, inspiration and will to live. I also found it interesting that one of the things that helped push Davidson to soldier on was his remembrance of another mountaineering survival book, Touching the Void by Joe Simpson (which details Simpson’s account of his near-death experience in the Peruvian Andes.)

The final part of the book deals with Davidson’s struggles to come to terms with the accident and Price’s death after his rescue. I was glad that Davidson included this in the book as I think it provides meaningful insights into grief, getting your life back on track after a major tragedy and a glimpse into the type of life that Davidson leads today (he is an inspirational speaker).

The only drawback might be some of the technical climbing terms and equipment that are referenced throughout the book. Although the authors do their best to explain everything in layman’s terms, I didn’t fully appreciate what Davidson managed to do as much as my brother (an experienced climber). However, I don’t think this should keep you from reading what is a very accessible book.

Recommended for: Fans of real-life survival stories, climbers and mountaineers (I gave my ARC to my brother, who ended up going out and buying his own copy so he could see all the photos) and readers who enjoy inspirational books that illustrate how people can dig deep and find hidden reserves of strength in times of great duress.(less)

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Jul 24, 2011 Lori L (She Treads Softly) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

In The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier, Jim Davidson, with the help of Kevin Vaughan, shares some of his life's experiences, especially with mountain climbing. The main focus of The Ledge is the climb of Mt. Rainer he and his friend Mike Price undertook almost 20 years ago, in June 1992. This challenging climb changed Jim Davidson's life forever and took Mike's life. During the climb, Jim and Mike broke through a snow bridge and fell 80 feet into a glacial c...more In The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier, Jim Davidson, with the help of Kevin Vaughan, shares some of his life's experiences, especially with mountain climbing. The main focus of The Ledge is the climb of Mt. Rainer he and his friend Mike Price undertook almost 20 years ago, in June 1992. This challenging climb changed Jim Davidson's life forever and took Mike's life. During the climb, Jim and Mike broke through a snow bridge and fell 80 feet into a glacial crevasse, landing on a narrow ledge.

After opening with some background stories and foreshadowing the accident to come, the book jumps back and forth in time until the fall happens in the timeline. Then it details the event and Jim's struggle to get out of the crevasse. As a result of the accident, Jim suffered from survivor's guilt and had another hurdle to overcome.

The book started out strong, but perhaps had a few too many details in the background stories. Once the climbing starts, anyone who has mountaineering and climbing experience will likely enjoy the detailed technical explanation of the climb(s). If you don't, the overwhelming number of details provided can become, well, overwhelming, and detract from the story.

What completes the story is not Jim's survival, but the determination it took to overcome adversity when the odds were not in his favor. He survived the tragic accident in more ways than one and was able to take the life lessons he learned from the event and use them to help him motivate others in their own personal growth. Jim Davidson is now a motivational speaker who has helped many other people.

While those who climb mountains or enjoy nonfiction accounts of adventures are going to appreciate this novel, others might be slightly put off by the amount of technical details. Yes, it's a solid nonfiction choice, however, the writing can be uneven in places. For me, it's highly recommended, with the admission that I didn't even try to follow the technical climbing information.
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/

Disclosure: I received this novel through the Goodreads First Reads program.
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Jun 01, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, own, vine

Witnessing the death of a friend is never easy, but doing so at the bottom of a crevasse while in a life threatening situation is downright devastating. Jim Davidson recalls the fateful day on Mount Rainier when he tumbled 80 feet into a crevasse, pulling his climbing partner Mike Price in after him in a fall that would take Mike’s life. Remarkably, Jim survived without major injuries, but he must make the most technically difficult climb of his life if he wants to save himself and recover Mike’...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Barbara Ell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, written-reviews

I received this Advance Reader Copy free as a Good Reads First Read.

I am not athletic, although I love being in the outdoors, I choose the easy trails, and my only camping occurs in an RV at a campground. That being said, I admire those who push themselves to truly enjoy the real outdoors. I never understood why people rock climb or mountain climb, however this book gives me a glimpse of what goes through their mind. And it's not the trite expression "because it's there."

This book starts with Mi...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Misfit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine

Father’s Day, June 21 1992. Jim Davidson and good friend and climbing partner Mike Price have just summited Mount Rainier via the more dangerous Liberty Ridge route and you’d think the decision to take the more heavily travelled Emmons glacier route back down would be the easiest part of the climb, but no…it wasn’t quite time to let their guard down. As careful as they are to test the glacier surface for unseen dangers, tragedy strikes when Jim missteps and tumbles into a hidden crevasse, and si...more Father’s Day, June 21 1992. Jim Davidson and good friend and climbing partner Mike Price have just summited Mount Rainier via the more dangerous Liberty Ridge route and you’d think the decision to take the more heavily travelled Emmons glacier route back down would be the easiest part of the climb, but no…it wasn’t quite time to let their guard down. As careful as they are to test the glacier surface for unseen dangers, tragedy strikes when Jim missteps and tumbles into a hidden crevasse, and since they’re tied together both end up plummeting down. Thankfully their fall is broken by a tiny ledge, but only Jim survives it – and he’s got 80 feet of a solid ice wall to climb, limited equipment, only so many hours of daylight before night comes, he’s exhausted and grieving and battling hypothermia to boot. Can he do it?

Yes he did and what a harrowing experience, but there’s still more to come as he has to deal with grief over the death of his friend, his guilt over the *what if* questions about whether any one decision or action he might have taken that could changed the outcome of that fatal day, and whether or not he can ever bring himself to climb a mountain again.

I did have a few quibbles over how the book begins, with a prologue that throws the reader right into the heart of the fall, and then backtracking to Jim and Scott’s back history and friendship, but once their climb of Rainier started I had a hard time putting this down. This book does contain a lot of technical aspects involved in not only climbing the mountain, but Jim’s harrowing climb back out of the crevasse and may not appeal to all readers. That said, if you have a real mountaineer (my mountain climbing boss is so drooling over this) or an arm-chair one in your family, I suspect this might just be up his/her alley. The advance copy I received from Amazon vine is text only, but it would be nice if the actual edition contains some photos of the two friends, and the happy times before that fateful step into nowhere.

The author speaks about his experience and grief process in a video to be found here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_3pxl....
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Aug 06, 2011 Kim Hull rated it 5 of 5 stars

On the descent following the summit of Mt Rainier in 1992, seasoned climbers, Jim Davidson & Mike Price, plunged into an 80 ft crevasse, miraculously landing on a small ledge. Mike Price did not survive the fall; Jim Davidson was hurt & very much alone.

The Ledge is a well-written account of what led both men to that moment in time, the extraordinary will to overcome a situation that most would not survive and the post-survival issues and emotions following such a tragic catastrophe.

For...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mountains, won-firstreads-giveaway

Won an advanced copy of this book on the Goodreads "First Reads" giveaway!

This is a wonderful book with a story reminiscent of Touching the Void - although not quite as unbelievable as that.
Every time I watch Touching the Void, I think, this can't all be true...I still have my doubts about all the details. Although, I have never read the book, which might give a more accurate story, the movie makes me feel like some of the story is made up just to market it. With this book though (The Ledge) yo...more

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Mar 15, 2012 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

As an adventure journalist I have the opportunity to meet some amazing people. And it was through the magic of social media that I became friends with climber, writer and public speaker Jim Davidson. We first got acquainted on Facebook. But last year we met in person at a café in the Canadian Rockies, a town called Banff. There he told his incredible story of friendship, adventure and survival that’s the subject of his new book, “The Ledge”. On a routine decent of Mt. Rainer Jim and his climbing...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Tina Hamilton rated it 3 of 5 stars

A quick read. I have read many, many books about mountaineering, so if one had to compare this to any of those, it is not the most exciting or memorable. In addition, I sometimes do not trust "the story" when the author uses a co-author. In any case, the story is heartfelt. In addition, it gave me a new admiration (and fear) of Mt. Rainier, one of those mountains I thought I could knock off during a long vacation. I would still like to climb Mt. Rainier, but it is not the simple climb some peopl...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal_memoir_biography

“Resources in this world are not distributed evenly, especially the precious gift of time.”

When you take risks, the consequences can be horrible and deadly. If you don't take risks, the consequences will eventually be deadly anyway, it just may take longer. Jim Davidson and Mike Price, climbing buddies and friends, took the risks and Mike paid with his early death. Jim, given the situation he was in, should have died. He didn't. This story tells how the two men came to be stuck on a tiny snow le...more “Resources in this world are not distributed evenly, especially the precious gift of time.”

When you take risks, the consequences can be horrible and deadly. If you don't take risks, the consequences will eventually be deadly anyway, it just may take longer. Jim Davidson and Mike Price, climbing buddies and friends, took the risks and Mike paid with his early death. Jim, given the situation he was in, should have died. He didn't. This story tells how the two men came to be stuck on a tiny snow ledge 80 feet down a crevasse, with unknown depths left to fall should the ledge break or they fall off.

This is a story that will appeal to climbers and us less brave souls, the armchair adventure voyeurs. It is more than a climbing story. It is about friendship, challenge, survival guilt. It is about doing the impossible when you know it is impossible but it is your only choice. And it is about how others view you when two people set out and only one comes back.

I learned about things I don't even want to contemplate, especially “corking,” a term new to me but one I'll never forget. Because I am not a climber (and, for the record, don't intend to become one), I had to pay close attention to the explanations of climbing and the equipment used, and the authors went to great lengths to help me understand. The bravery of the rangers and volunteers, people who are risking their own lives to save others, is inspiring. What courage that must take.

At the beginning of the book, there were too many time jumps for me to keep the time line straight. The writing was occasionally uneven, much better in some places than in others. I liked hearing about Mr. Davidson's early life, his summer jobs working with his dad, jobs that no sane person would undertake. I would have liked to know more about Mr. Price. Still, this was a fascinating story and a wonderful tribute from a climber to his friend and fellow climber.

(The quote at the top of this review is taken from an advance uncorrected proof given to me, and may have changed in the finished edition.)(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Corrina rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a friend and colleague of Jim Tuttle, who died on Mt. Rainier, and Lester Spross, his climbing partner who survived (and then died flying planes not very many years after that), this book was a revelation. I came upon it in the weirdest way - a friend of Jim Davidson's was having a reception and fundraiser at a downtown Denver restaurant we just happened to be dining at with some friends and I saw the book on my way out, made a donation, and devoured the book. Though Les had recounted the ent...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Linda Bollinger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-books

I received this Advance Reader Copy free as a Good Reads First Read. And I’m glad I did.

This stirring true story is; to use a cliché, problematic-to-put-down. The harrowing parts are interspersed with flashbacks to earlier times in the author’s life explaining – to me at least partially, why this climber had the drive to test himself against nature. His summer jobs with his father and the risks they took gave him the taste for danger and the impetus to climb mountains. The book also shows you hi...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Joann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book my only complaint was that I found it to be long in the parts where he talks technically about climbing. On page 251 the author says of what he changed after his near-death experience: "So I begin to vacation a little more and work a little less. I spend less money on things and more on experiences. I free myself from relationships with unpleasant or untrustworthy people. Each of these refinements has some costs, but they are just minor surcharges to live a life that...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Lisa Eirene rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love these adventure type stories. This one appealed to me for two reasons: the story and the fact that it took place on Mount Rainier (in my home state).

The story is exciting. There is a slow build-up at the beginning with some background info, but it was interesting to read. When the two friends finally go up Mount Rainier and achieve their goal, the heartbeat quickens. I know what's coming next...

The story of their tragedy was heartbreaking. I kid you not, I cried no less than half a dozen...more

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Jan 20, 2012 josh rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: climbers, adventurers, alpinists

Recommended to josh by: shelf @ UAPL

Shelves: sports, non-fiction, mountaineering

wow. this was certainly a much different read that viesturs's book that i read last month... i can't imagine being in mr. davidson's spot: less than a half hour from safety, crashing through a snow bridge into a crevasse, friend dying right on top of him, fighting the environment around him to make his escape making a climb far more difficult than anything else he had done in the past.

it was a wild ride. very well written to capture the bond of the rope and the utter desperation to survive. i f...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Jocelyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, sports

The story of Jim Davidson and Mike Price's ascent of Mount Rainier and the collapse of a snow bridge that dropped them 80 feet down a crevasse during their descent. If you hadn't heard of this event before (I was one of those people), you learn in the first few pages that Mike died in the crevasse. The book hops around in the timeline in the first half of the book, talking about Jim's and Mike's climbing experiences and their backgrounds, before detailing the Mount Rainier climb. Once Jim is tra...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-memoir

In June 1992, Jim Davidson and his friend, Mike Price, set out to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. It was after the successful achievement of their goal, as they began their descent, that disaster struck; the climbers, tethered together, plunged through a snow bridge softened by the sun and into a huge crevasse, landing on a 14 square foot ledge some eighty feet below the surface. Price was injured fatally during the fall; Davidson, the less seasoned of the two, was left to struggle alone for...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Edward H. Busse, III rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-owned

This was an excellent book right from page 1. Mr. Davidson and Mr. Vaughan did an excellent job of laying out everything in a way that put you in these people's lives throughout the entire drama. They did an especially nice job of describing the humanity involved in the whole drama - not just what happened that day on June 21, 1992 but what kind of people both he and Mike Price were. In addition, the authors provided incredible insight in to the emotions of families, friends, boyfriends, wives a...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Don rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall a good story of Jim's tragic account during a climb on Mount Rainier, and the circumstances he had to overcome to survive (although his friend Mike did not). I found it informative and contemplative, and wondered how I would have handled it if faced with a similar situation.

There were some parts of the book which I thought were far longer than they needed to be. His account of climbing out of the crevasse seemed to take a long, long time to describe. Also the end of the book (after bein...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Carole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, biography

Davidson is a rock climber/mountaineer turned writer largely because of the experience recounted in this book of falling into a crevass after summiting Mt. Rainier on a challenging route. In order to understand the forces at work, Davidson builds a picture of himself and his climbing partner and their love of the challenges that they face. After falling into the crevass, however, he faces the supreme challenge. The description of the technical, psychological and spiritual challenges were grippin...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Michele rated it 5 of 5 stars

At first, not having any knowledge about the tools used in climbing, this book was a bit difficult to start. However, after asking questions and learning about the items individually, I was able to form a pretty good picture of the climbing experience.

What Jim Davidson experienced and how he handled the situation is a spellbinding reminder of the responsibilities of true friendship and being a partner, especially in the face of unbelievable adversity.

I truly hope that the book was cathartic for...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Corry rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because I have seen Mount Rainier in 2010 and was awed by its grandeur and vastness.I also know nothing about mountainclimbing . This book gives a real insight in the world of mountaineering and describes the efforts, difficulties and true hardships on a mountainclimb.It is so well written that you feel you are climbing with them , at least until they fall in a crevasse. You have to be a special person to be a climber, and in the first half of the book you can see the developmen...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Linda Sable rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow! I couldn't put this book down - read it in 2 days. A true story of friendship, perserverence and of course climbing. Jim Davidson and his climbing partner Mike Price decide to climb Mt.Rainier but unfortunately fall through an ice shelf and into a deep crevice. The story of course gives you background leading up the to the climb and what occurs afterwards during this horrific but mesmerizing story. Captivating!!

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Sep 10, 2011 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Quick read about the author's climbing adventures on Mt Rainier and the accident that took the life of his climbing partner. Vivid descriptions of the route up from 80ft down, which was preceded by a nice setup to the climbing adventure itself. There is a brief section that reads like the motivational speeches that the author now gives professionally, but not enough to distract too much (and can be easily skimmed).

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Aug 02, 2011 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars

I can only give this book 2 stars because there are many others in the genre that are so much better. I think if you are a climber, you will probably enjoy this book. But so much of it is focused on the technical minutiae, that I was just bored with most of it. There are a few exciting moments, but for the average reader who doesn't have deep technical climbing knowledge, I recommend to skip this one and read "Into Thin Air" or "No Way Down", both of which I could not put down.

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Jan 23, 2013 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an engaging story of two friends climbing up Mount Rainier, and only one making it back down. It was definitely gripping, and I read it in one day.

Having never been a climber myself, some of the descriptions of equipment and techniques was a little tedious to me, as I couldn't really picture what he meant. But overall, a good read!

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

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Jan 22, 2012 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, travel, non-fiction

This was a gripping story! I found myself having a hard time putting it down because I wanted to find out how things turned out! Though I was slightly bored with some of the back story in the beginning I started to find it more interesting and was later able to see how crucial this information was to the overall plot.
If you like adventure or mountaineering stories this is a must read.

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Feb 28, 2013 john boyack rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a very beautiful and tough read for me. A tragedy rife with movements of positive progression, regardless the pain. The self-portrait of Jim following the accident is ghostly.

I nearly closed the book for good upon completing Chapter 10 because I didn't want to read any more of Jim's pain, and of his extreme isolation in that terrible crevasse.

It was an honor and privilege to meet him in Ouray this year, but only now do I really understand that..I owe you a hug, Jim!

He was kind enough t...more

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