The Hill: My Lives on Mt. McKinley: A True Story of Tragedy, Recovery, and Redemption on North America's Highest Peak

I'm glad Ed Hommer got the chance to write his inspirational story before his untimely death on Mt. Rainier September 23rd of this year. In spite of the fact that Ed had a co-writer, his own voice rings very clear in this book. There is something very appealing in his modesty, sometimes almost a childlike idealism, and his wrenching appraisals/reappraisals of himself.Ed grew up in modest circumstances, somewhat of an outsider with not much enthusiasm for school. Early on, he developed a fascination for all things Alaska, seeing it as a Last Frontier and he hung on to his dream. His next goal was to become a pilot, and I was impressed with the adversity he overcame to reach his goal. He had no money, only a high school education and ended up being a pilot for American Airlines.He finally made it to Alaska, a land he loved forever, and thought he had the world by the tail with a part time job as a bush pilot, his hippie chick girlfriend--the beauteous Sandy, and a baby on the way when disaster struck. He took three passengers (one being his brother-in-law) on a sight seeing jaunt and crashed high up on Mt. McKinley. Two (including the brother-in-law) were injured fatally, but Ed and another passenger were not hurt too badly initially. Then a storm front set in, and would-be rescuers could not reach them for five days. Ed's recounting of these hellish five days is harrowing. The weather was fierce, and by the time the rescuers got there, the two living victims were frostbitten badly. Ed lost both feet above the ankle. He very honestly admits he was in a tailspin for a long time. He was besieged by legalities he didn't understand, he had a terrible time with the Veteran's Administration who was underwriting most of his massive medical bills including a 3-1/2 month stay in the hospital, physical therapy, and prosthetic devices. He withdrew from life, became apathetic, drank his breakfast, lunch and then some. His marriage suffered irreparable harm. Part of his problem was the miserable time he had with his prosthesis. Once he attached himself to a goal, he was seemingly unstoppable. He made up his mind he would fly again; he not only achieved the goal, he went back to work. Then he decided he wouldn't get closure until he had successfully summitted Mt. McKinley despite his artificial feet and lower legs. He did it in two tries. Though Ed Hommer didn't care about material goals, he set his sights high and was a miracle of achievement.

I hope that anyone who knows a person who is struggling with depression, illness or seemingly overwhelming difficulties will give them this book. Just as a book helped to inspire Ed to move on from the tragedies in his life, I believe this book will encourage and inspire. I knew Ed at a time in his life when I feared for him, feared for the darkness that I thought might overtake him, and how thrilled I was and thankful when I heard about how he had conquered the darkness. How proud we all have been of his accomplishments, and what he has given to others despite his challenges. Ed is victorious, because he died doing what he loved; the darkness, the tragedy, failed to do him in. His story will keep him alive, as it inspires others.

This book not only gives inspiration to amputees, but also to anyone who has had a setback in their life from which they feel they will never recover. I had a hard time putting the book down because I was literally transported to the various locations of this book, i.e. Talkeetna, AK, Mt. McKinley, etc. This book takes you deep into the human spirit and shows us how resiliant it can be in the face of hopelessness.

Disclaimer: I know Ed. I have flown with Ed. I've been out drinking with Ed. I like Ed. So the book gets five stars. But I could have just not written a review. Instead I want to share with you that this book is like getting to listen in on the story of a life, told first-hand by a real straight-forward all-American mountain-climbing airliner-flying legless man. Ed lost his legs in a harrowing five days spent on the side of Mount McKinley following a crash in a small plane he was piloting. Ed hit lows of VA hospitals and cheap beer. Ed now is a pilot for American Airlines, and still climbs big mountains. I learnt a lot about his life that I didn't know after flying with him for a month. It's not platitudes, or deep thoughts, but it is real. And it sounds just like Ed talking, not some fancy tarted-up bookish words. It was well worth my time to read it, and if you've never flown with Ed, it should be worth your time and money to see what you have missed.

Ed Hommer's The Hill is more than a "this is how I got to the summit" mountaineering book-it's an inspiring story of transcending personal tragedy and pushing limits.Stuck on a pass on Mt. McKinley after a plane crash, then bush-pilot Ed Hommer and three others endured days of bitter cold as a storm delayed their rescue. Hommer lost both of his lower legs to the cold; two of his companions lost their lives. The heart of the story has to do with how he adapted to life as a double-amputee, both physically and emotionally, and ultimately made an uneasy peace with the mountain as he returned to summit it.The tone of Hommer's book is fast paced and folksy. He avoids philosophizing about his situation, instead he tells his story in a straightforward and honest manner. I recommend the book to anyone looking for an exciting and inspiring read.