Call of Everest, The: The History, Science, and Future of the World's Tallest Peak

by Bernadette McDonald

Gripping and sumptuous, this is the definitive book on the history, mystique, and science of Mount Everest, including how climate change is impacting the world's tallest mountain.
 
In 1963, the American Mount Everest Expedition made mountaineering history. It was the first American venture to successfully scale the legendary peak and the first successful climb up the hazardous West Ridge (a climb so difficult no one has yet repeated it). In 2012, adventurer Conrad Anker led a National Geographic/The North Face team up the mountain to enact a legacy climb. Environmental changes and overcrowding led to challenges and disappointments, but yet the mountain maintains its allure. Now, steely-eyed Anker leads a team of writers in a book designed to celebrate the world's most famous mountain, to look back over the years of climbing triumphs and tragedies, and to spotlight what has changed--and what remains eternal--on Mount Everest. Telltale signs of Everest's current state, never-before-published photography, and cutting-edge science expose the world's tallest peak--its ancient meaning, its ever-present challenges, and its future in a world of disappearing ice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mountaineering, Adventure, Science, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Brett Hinton]

The pictures are great. The histories really interesting and I enjoyed the personal perspectives from some of the special stories that are included throughout the book. An amazing mountain and what a great to climb to nearly 30,000 ft.

[David Ward]

The Call of Everest: The History, Science, and Future of the World's Tallest Peak by Conrad Anker (National Geographic Society 2013) (915.496). Wow! This project teams Conrad Anker, who is the greatest high-altitude climber that ever lived, and the National Geographic Society, which brings total credibility and very deep pockets. Much of this book chronicles a 2012 expedition to Everest which was led by Conrad Anker and was sponsored by The National Geographic Society. The volume seeks to be as grand and sweeping in form and content as the mountain itself, but it never reaches the summit.
I've read widely of the popular literature about Everest, but this book taught me something that I had never realized about the current state of affairs on Mt. Everest: The mountain has been tamed by the sale of guided tours to the summit. Any fool with internet access and fifty grand can find some trekking broker who will put her in a tether and haul her up the mountain where she will either succeed, quit, or die.
I understand that it's easy to die on Everest; in fact, the book says for every three climbers who successfully summit Everest, one climber dies in the effort. But how can it be argued that Everest has not been tamed when on some days there are single-file lines of three hundred plus climbers attached to ropes trudging up the mountain in single file? My rating: 7/10, finished 1/29/19. I purchased a HB copy in good shape from McKay's Used Books 12/5/18. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Ron]

There's a little bit of everything in this collection of stories about the highest mountain on earth. I enjoyed the discussions of how the body reacts to high altitude, and how the arrival of adventure tourism has affected the culture, economy, and environment of the region. The book could have used some content editing to reduce redundancy, and a few more column inches about some of the earlier efforts to climb the peak. Still, for a casual reader of mountaineering lore, this might be just the thing.

[Korine Kolivras]

GORGEOUS photos, wonderfully researched book on the history and present state of Everest. I've read a number of books on Everest, and this is among the very best. Given that the chapters are written by different authors, there is some repetition that could've been avoided with more careful editing, but overall it's a fantastic tome.

[Lana Higbee]

I enjoyed the concept of this book, which is to examine Everest and its modern history from various perspectives, but while reading it, I found it slightly dry and (since chapters have different authors) sometimes repetitive.

[Ron Jensen]

Perfect book to read while I was trekking in Nepal. Somewhat dry; really a collection of articles on the geology, flora/fauna, history, climbers, Sherpas, physiology, etc. associated with climbing Everest and the Himalayas. Gave me lots of tidbits to share while we trekked in the area.

[Scott]

Beautiful photography. National Geographic always takes gorgeous photographs.

[Wan Peter]

"Getting to the top is Optional, But getting down is Mandatory." - Ed Viesturs

[Brett Hinton]

Loved the stories and information about climbing Everest.

[Santhi]

Everest - it's more than the call of adventure to the roof of the world.

Incredible perspectives of the towering monolith.

[Valerie Sherman]

Loved the book and photography. I continue to be fascinated by the mountain, and the people who climb it.

[Marshall]

Enjoyable book, quite in-depth look at many interesting topics relating to the history and future of Everest.