After the Wind by Lou Kasischke

Most readers of adventure and outdoor nonfiction are familiar with Jon Krakauer's account, Into Thin Air,  about the disaster that unfolded on Mt. Everest in 1996.  Krakauer's book combines both his personal and journalist's perspective, covering the stories of all of the expeditions involved, including the one where he was embedded.  In contrast, Kassichke focuses solely on his own experience, from his training regimen and initial contacts with expedition head Rob Hall to his own suffering and near-death experience on the mountain.  This is an absolutely gripping book . . .  I was reading it during the Seahawks/Vikings game and it made the description of the cold on Everest all the more real.  (Btw, the football players had nothing to complain about, compared to what the climbers endured!!)  Kassichke is refreshingly honest on where he feels the blame lies for this tragedy.  His personal struggle to make the right decision on whether to summit and the strength of his analysis of the inevitable fate of the Hall expedition make this a very compelling story.  Strongly recommended.