| Touching the Void: The True Story of One Mans Miraculous Survival |
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Product Details
Concise and yet packed with detail, Touching the Void, Joe Simpson's harrowing account of near-death in the Peruvian Andes, is a compact tour de force that wrestles with issues of bravery, friendship, physical endurance, the code of the mountains, and the will to live. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, Simon Yates, and to "those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned." What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few or none have gone before? Simpson's vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. As the author struggles ever higher, readers learn of the mountain's awesome power, the beautiful--and sometimes deadly--sheets of blue glacial ice, and the accomplishment of a successful ascent. And then catastrophe: the second half of Touching the Void sees Simpson at his darkest moment. With a smashed, useless leg, he and his partner must struggle down a near-vertical face--and that's only the beginning of their troubles.
Product Reviews
 (5 stars) - Gripping narration: you feel the terror and the pain and the heroism as if you were there
Told in first person, this story of Joe's survival on an inhospitable mountain after breaking his leg, his determination to get off that beastly mountain, and his future decision to continue climbing - all are a source of great inspiration.
Joe and Simon choose to climb in the wilderness of the Andes where there is no emergency help system (such as available in the Alps). They want to pitch themselves against this formidable mountain without any backups - just the two humans and the mountain. The mountain almost defeats them, but not quite - a little bit of luck even amidst the disastrous situations, and Joe's overwhelming determination to live, makes this survivor's tale extraordinary. The mountain, the crevasse, the snow storm, the dark nights of terror - all take on a life of their own, as if they are evil monsters playing with two puny humans, could crush them with a casual stroke of their paw.
The adventure spans 7 days - the first 3 are about normal climbing and conquering the Siula Grande peak and starting the descent. The remaining 4 days are fraught with mishap, drama, emotional and physical endurance. The rescue effort by Simon happens as a matter of course, without deliberate discussions, exploration of all possibilities and consequences. At the point where Simon has to cut the rope the reader is completely in sync with him, knowing he has no choice.
I liked the parts narrated in the first person of Simon (written by Joe - he acknowledges Simon's trust in allowing him to write those parts in his own words) - describing Simon's dilemma, guilt, and giving him a fair assessment for his role in the rescue. The emotional drama when Joe discovers his leg is broken, and the non-verbal exchange of thoughts between the two - is so totally honest and poignant. Joe comes across as someone with a deep understanding of human nature.
Great book, I've read it twice over.
(5 stars) - Amazing story, Joe if I see around, let me invite you a beer, or a couple of pisco shots I must say!
...just a couple of details that may help you if you are not familiar with this story.
Joe with a friend are trying to summit a peak in Peru, is two days walk from the last vehicle's road to the base camp.
The peak is around 21000 feet, around 6300 mts, but I should say that looks pretty hard, and they have a nasty weather.
Joe and his pal are Brits. Don't read if you are looking for a trash book, hope you understand what I mean it.
(5 stars) - Brain Bending, Heart Pounding Tale
In every genre, there are books that set the bar. Touching the Void sets the bar for survival tales at a dizzying height. I chow down on outdoor adventure stories regularly, both historical and contemporary. From Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air to Apsley Cherry-Gerard's The Worst Journey in the World, I've stared goggle-eyed at the pages that illustrate the human capacity for endurance, and document the raw will to survive some men/women radiate. Touching the Void rocked me back on my heels.
Touching the Void is more than a survival tale. The ethical dilemma of what to do when a fellow climber's injury puts his partner's survival in jeopardy has never been discussed more eloquently. One human's choice to survive has rarely, if ever, been detailed in more harrowing and excruciating detail. There are many tales of climbers on Everest, intent on their one shot at the tallest peak in the world, walking by injured and dying climbers without offering assistance. Touching the Void provides a similar dilemma in a uniquely personal and horrifying way.
My book group (six couples) couldn't shut up about this book, even though none of us are climbers. Why? Because author Joe Simpson powerfully casts the irresistably baited hook "What would YOU do if YOU were in this circumstance?", and the twelve people in our group bit, and bit HARD.
If you are a reader of outdoor adventure, your reading list is simply incomplete if you haven't read this. If you're the type that thinks outdoor excursions should be confined to mad dogs and Englishmen, read it anyway. It will change the way you think about human capacity, and your own capabilities. If I was all thumbs, this book would get a ten thumbs up!
(5 stars) - One of my favorite wilderness survival stories
So I've read, Simpson's survival is widely regarded by mountaineers as amongst the most amazing pieces of mountaineering lore in history. And I can see why. I literally could not put this book down and even cried into my cereal.
(5 stars) - True Story
Very heart jumping book. Keeps you on the edge of every page. Worth the read.
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