Review: The Summit

the Summit: Faith Beyond Everest’s Death Zone

From the Back of the Book:

It’s one of the greatest challenges one can face on Earth; an ascent to the top of the world on the slopes of Mount Everest. Eric Alexander experienced grace and a faith-empowering journey he will never forget as part of a record-setting team in May 2001, scaling the heights of Everest with his friend, blind climber Erik Weinhenmayer.

• Experience some of the most dangerous locations in the world, including abject terror on Amadablam, a blind ski descent of Russia’s Mount Elbrus, and up Kilimanjaro in Africa with four blind teens
• Gain wisdom in the application of trust, courage, innovation, teamwork, leadership, and integrity to overcome your own Everests
• Discover practical faith lessons learned on the highest peaks of six continents

Here is the powerful story of Eric Alexander and his unique life journey of guiding people with disabilities to the most perilous places of the world, including Mount Everest’s first blind ascent. In The Summit: Faith Beyond Everest’s Death Zone you will follow in their historic footsteps, and learn about faith, trust, prayer, depending on God, as well as the perseverance needed during these climbs and in your own life. Be inspired and motivated by Eric’s insight, not simply to survive but to thrive every day in God’s grace.

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About the Author:

Eric Alexander, skier, climber, and mountaineer is achieving his goals while playing an instrumental role in helping others to achieve their own. On May 25th 2001 Eric defied the odds and scaled Mt. Everest guiding his blind- friend Erik Weihenmayer to its lofty 29,035′ summit. In 2002 the pair traveled to Russia and climbed Mt. Elbrus at 18,500 ft, and again found success on Mt. Kosciusko, Australia –– two more of the seven summits (the highest points on each of the seven continents) notably the pair skied from the top of each of these latter two – making this the first-ever blind ski descents. Eric shares this inspirational story with audiences all over the country and when he is not traveling he teaches disabled skiers in Vail, Colorado and directs Adventures Beyond Limits, an organization that educates and encourages youth with disabilities in the outdoors.

Eric grew up in the Colorado Rockies and started climbing in his teens. He was a member of the University of Denver ski team, which led him to pursue work as a Ski Patrolman in Vail and in the French Alps, as well as instructing at Beaver Creek Resort. Eric has successfully climbed the highest point on six of the seven continents and led expeditions throughout Europe, North America, South America, the Himalaya and other mountainous regions of the globe.

Climbing has not always been without its trials. Eric reminds us of our humanity and demonstrates the courage it takes to succeed in climbing to the “top of the world”. Surviving a 150′ fall in the Himalayas on Mt. Amadablam in 2000 was just the beginning. Eric developed pulmonary edema and it became clear that he would need to be airlifted to safety. For eight months he struggled with pneumonia and was unable to train for Everest. Gaining inspiration from his team and his faith, Eric dared to dream once again and fought back to play an instrumental role in this historic ascent. Today, Eric continues to climb and look for new challenges both personally and in the outdoors while challenging people to overcome the “Everests” in their own lives redefining the limits of what we can achieve.

You can connect with Eric at Higher Summits.

My Thoughts:

Eric Alexander is an adrenaline junkie.  He loves to be outdoors, and he loves challenges.  He also has a bit of self-doubt that creeps in as he tends to be a bit hard on himself.  Yet, he is able to move past these doubts through the help of his team mates and the Lord.  These are the thoughts that jumped out at me as I read this inspirational book.

While Eric’s feats are great, it’s the individuals that he has climbed these mountains with that I find the most inspirational.  It’s quite the feat to be able to climb Everest, but climbing it blind – wow!  I would have loved to have been able to hear more from Eric Weihenmayer’s (the blind climber) point of view.  I thought is was great that Eric A. was able to take on so many of these climbs while helping guide handicapped individuals.

It was interesting that Eric A. often learned a great deal from those who he was helping.  He was also able to see the Lord’s hand in his adventures.  He found himself needed to depend on the Lord many times during his dangerous climbs.

For success, we need to seek the extraordinary, but learn to find joy in the ordinary.

At the beginning of the book, Eric mentions that he will not be following a linear time line.  The chapters and adventures tend to hop from one time period to the next.  It’s a bit odd.  I probably would have preferred a linear time line to make for an easier read.

The beginning of each chapter features information about a different summit.  I found this information fascinating.  This information may or may not directly related to the chapter.  The stories contained in the chapters were information and interesting.  The chapters conclude with reflections from Eric and include faith tie-ins to his experiences.

I enjoyed reading about the climbing adventures and was inspired that so many different individuals from all walks of life and physical abilities were able to make these different climbs.  With God, all things are possible.

Book Details:

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group; Original edition (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892217014
• ISBN-13: 978-0892217014
• Retail Price: $14.99

I received a copy of this book from New Leaf Publishing to help facilitate the writing of this frank and honest review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.