This is another book about the terrible storm and lost lives on Mt. Everest, in May 1996. However, Dickinson was on the North Face, the Tibet side. This side of the mountain is said to be more difficult due to the cold, landscape and winds.

Dickinson was a film maker and part of an expedition that included Brian Blessed, a British entertainment personality. Dickinson's assignment was to film Blessed as he attempted to conquer Everest. Dickinson never intended to go for the summit. He hired a more qualified climber and film maker to join the expedition. Dickinson did, however, catch "summit-fever" and joined the final push to the top.

I have read better mountaineering stories, however this one still kept me entertained. Although it took nearly 100 pages of lead-in to get to the meat of the story. Once there, it was a gripping tale, but I don't think there was enough there for a book, even one this short. Dickinson includes events that occurred on the south side of Everest to fill in where his experience left off.

I am not sure why I read anything I can find on mountaineering and Everest. I suppose it is because I know it is something I will never experience. Also, I love the photo's that are usually included in the book. This one does have some awesome shots.

I am going to be on a mountaineering kick for awhile. I found a pile of books I had forgotten about and now I have "summit-fever" too. ( )

An interesting read and an interesting counter to 'Into Thin Air'. Dickinson was with a British team on the north side of Everest on the 10th May 1996 when the huge storm which was to leave 8 climbers dead with many others fighting for their lives. In the aftermath of the storm Dickinson, Alan Hinckes, Lhapka, Mingma and Gyaltsen eventually summited on the 19th May 1996 but it is Dickinson's thoughtful reaction to the costs of being above 8,000 meters (they passed the bodies of the three Indian climbers who perished in the storm and were leaving Camp Six at the moment that an Austrian climber died at the camp from Oedema) and how this impacts a person's judgement and morality which makes this an interesting read. ( )

I read this after Krakauer (Into Thin Air) and Boukreev's (The Climb) stories, and found it every bit as gripping. Must admit to having become a fanatical armchair Everesteer, and it has to be a pretty bad book to not hold my interest (Lene Gammelgard manages though!) And, yes, it is called 'The Death Zone' in the English and Australian editions at least. ( )