Winner of Publisher's Weekly 'Listen Up' Award

Year after year, in spite of monumental dangers, climbers return to the world's most difficult mountains, whether it's the cliffs of Yosemite or the peaks of the Himalaya. At these places, even the most cautious climber must accept the possibilities of moving unroped to save time, braving terrain vulnerable to rockfall, trusting afternoon thunderstorms to hold off long enough to get below treeline. Mistakes, bad weather and bad luck often lead to death. Climb offers harrowing accounts of extreme mountaineering and its potentially fatal consequences. Everest and K2—two of the most feared and respected peaks in the world. High offers a unique perspective on climbing these two peaks, from early exploration disasters, to the modern tragedies. These stories remind us, in vivid written accounts, why Everest and K2 are among the world's most dangerous places, yet why the world's best climbers can't stay away from them.