Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey

Goran Kropp's and David Lagercrantz's "Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey" is an excellent autobiography of a climber. Kropp wisely chose to tell his story with the help of a professional writer, Lagercrantz. Kropp's book is liberally peppered with fascinating stories that leave one astonished. As with any autobiography, it is only an enjoyable read if you like the author. I found his spirit delightful. A bit more than half the book covers Kropp's own three attempts to summit Everest in the context of the much written about events of May 1996. Kropp adds interesting details to Jon Krakauer's classic account of the 1996 Everest tragedy, "Into Thin Air". Disturbingly, far too much of chapters ten and eleven of "Ultimate High" appear to be borrowed, in places with the almost same wording, from "Into Thin Air". Lagerkrantz acknowledged a debt to Krakauer at the back of the book. Perhaps this is customary in Sweden. Other than this problem of sometimes repeating or paraphrasing Krakauer, "Ultimate High" is a fun read. It would be valuable, if a second edition of this book could be published that includes a biography of Kropp after Everest until the end of his far too short life in 2002.

Swedish adventurer Göran Kropp was killed Sept. 30, 2002 when he fell while rock climbing at Frenchman Coulee, a popular climbing area near Vantage, Washington, 135 miles southeast of Seattle. Full article on MountainZone.com. My condolences to Renata and his admirers.

What an incredible addition to an incredible series of stories. Just when you thought that each installment of the 1996 tragedy would begin to sound the same, along comes another fantastic version. Being a cyclist and an avid hiker I can appreciate the drama of Goran's adventure. I can only dream of coming anywhere close to his accomplishment, that's why this story I will read over and over again.

Goran Kropp's "Ultimate High" is one of the best Everest books to come along in quite some time. It's not all about mountains or just Everest, it's about people, places, hardships and humility. Kropps sets out on his bicycle from Sweden to the Himalayas to climb Everest unassisted and with without oxygen. Throughout this adventure Kropp fearlessly talks about the climbing elite and some of the "goings on" on Everest. He accomplishes this without being malicious. It's a tell it like it is scenario. This writer learned more about Everest in this short little book than from several others about the subject."Ultimate High" is the ultimate read.

I reviewed Goran's book in NY Times Sunday book review October 10. I'm a big fan of this quirky adventure. A great read.