Seppelliti Nel Cielo: La Straordinaria Storia Degli Scalatori Sherpa Nel Giorno Più Drammatico Della Tragedia Del K2 (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
Mountaineering books always have a sort of car-crash appeal to me. It looking at something that's both riveting and horrifying at the same time. Buried in the Sky recounts the events of August 2008 in which 11 climbers - sherpas, high-altitude porters and seasoned climbers - died on K2, either trying to reach the summit, trying to descend, or trying to rescue those who were. The difference of this book from other mountaineering disaster books that I've read, is that this book tells the story mainly from the point of view of the sherpas and HAPs who risk their own lives to help their clients reach their goals, with particular focus on two such men, Chhiring Dorje and Pasang Lama who were forced into a daring escapade of their own when Pasang Lama was left stranded on the mountain without his crucial ice axe.I loved this different angle to the book. It was so nice to read about the sherpas and HAPs as actual people with backgrounds and families and cultures which frequently come into conflict with both their careers helping other up the mountains and with their clients themselves. It was also interesting to read about the experience of mountaineering from the point of view of people who have to climb mountains, often due to poverty and the strain of providing for their families rather than just because they want to. It also highlights just how oblivious to the damage they cause that the commercial and sometimes professional climbers are. There's a selfishness there that sat uncomfortably with me while I read this book, although I do have to admit that I've never understood the drive that people have to undertake extreme challenges anyway. Inevitably, some climbers, Cecelie and Ger, come off better than others, Marco and Mr Kim (the Koreans' behaviour is just shocking).Mostly when reading this book, I was fascinated by the rich cultural background that the authors give to both the sherpas and HAPs and the heritage of those who live in the mountains. I especially enjoyed reading about the goddesses of the mountains and the repercussions that they visit upon those who climb their domains.All in all, this is a really engaging book to read about the disaster and I really liked that the majority of the account was told from the sherpas' point of view. However, there's always something unsettling about books like this for me, which is why although the writing and the book itself is probably a five-star book, my reading experience of it can only reach 4 stars. This is an excellent account of the 2008 disaster on K2 that claimed 11 lives, tragically after several of them had reached the summit. The authors do a great job describing the culture around mountain climbing for the Sherpas who do so much of the dangerous and valuable work. This is a must-read for anyone who likes good history and solid storytelling with an emotional punch that will stay with your for a while.
What do You think about Seppelliti Nel Cielo: La Straordinaria Storia Degli Scalatori Sherpa Nel Giorno Più Drammatico Della Tragedia Del K2 (2013)?
Well written story of those that make the climbs possible. Convinced me to stay at lower altitudes.
—what_UP
Very nice book, a bit of geography and social background before the ascent and its developments!
—maria
This is the first mountaineering book I am reading and I should say I was spellbound.
—Caramel99
Gripping. Couldn't put it down. High recommend.
—kernmedic
