IAP Political Forum

So has anyone read this? I just bought it today and it looks mighty good....

Bear Grylls is the man!

Seems we have no Discovery Channel fans on here. Oh well. The book is damn good so far.

Finally finished the book about 8 minutes ago. I give it two thumbs up!
If you're into climbing, backpacking, or mountaineering, this ones for you.

What is the meaning of 'kid', how old was he? Isn't it true that you can't stay on the summit of Everest for very long once you reach it?

He was 23 when he summited Everest in 1998. At the time he was the youngest person to summit. A year later a 22 year old broke his record, BUT died on the descent.

No you can't stay on the summit very long. There is a barrier of 25,000 feet. It's called "The Death Zone". As soon as you reach that, the body stars to eat itself. The body can't rejuvinate or consume water/food at that point. It can't live in conditions that high. The majority of people have to use oxygen tanks once they get up that high because the level of oxygen is 1/3 of what it is at sea level. A few people have climbed it without an oxygen tank, but it's EXTREMELY difficult. You have to have a certain body type to do that. Once you actually reach the summit you have to make sure you turn around in time, otherwise you'll run out of oxygen. If that happens, you could be spending a lifetime up there.

I watched this documentary/movie a few years ago: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120661/

It's unfortunate how many didn't make it back alive.

Ahh yeah. I'm reading a book about that now...

It's a wonder you're even on the internet considering all the survivalist nature stuff you're into. :)

Don't have much time to go anywhere because I'm working or am in school 7 days a week.

Going to the Adirondack mountains though later this year.

That's cool. You should take some pictures of the mountain and the scenery while you're there.

The main authors I read were Jon Krakouer, Lincoln Hall(I think he died  :() and Brigette Muir.

Jon Krakauer wrote "Into Thin Air" which is about the 1996 tragedy. I'm reading it now.

Ooops, sorry  :-[, that was the book which I read, and was recounting incidents in this thread, from the expedition. Anyway, I just deleted my entire post on that, so hopefully you didn't read it in detail.I didn't want to give away who survived and who didn't.

There are a number of books on that expedition, as there were two main parties that went. Some of the details differ in the books, depending upon who is writing it.One of the guides in the other party wrote a book on it as well. There is also a movie about the incident, called "Into thin air" taken directly from the book.

Haha it says on the back of the book who survives (or atleast how many). No worries ;).

Yeah it seems the author is critical of one of the expedition leaders. Someone then made a documentary in defence of that expedition leader (I don't know the person's name).