This is a really quick read about a harrowing ice climbing trip in Alaska that four friends undertook only a few years ago. The book talks a lot about the history of ice climbing in different places, usually through the lens of a horrible accident, and the eventual recovery or rescue. The author has both a personal and professional relationship with the couples involved so it is told from a very close perspective.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.

5 stars.

It’s a captivating and well told story. While the focus is on four friends whose climb gone horribly wrong, the author weaves through it some glimpses of the history of mountaineering, debates within the community, and the changes that come with new more advanced technology. Although the story is obviously focused on the four climbers it’s ultimately about the human experience. How much control do we really have? How important is luck? How much risk are we ready to take on? Life, stress, work, relationships, balance. We have very little control, so little control, and we hardly ever admit it. But there’s still something you can do. Focus on what’s in front of you, on what’s possible.

You don’t have to be a climber to appreciate what this book has to offer. I think the writer did a good job telling the story.

An intro like the one to Hidden Mountains will always capture my attention. I love how the author presented the climax of the book in the beginning (as a cliffhanger of course!) and then jumped back to tell the readers how the climbers got into that situation. I also had no idea what happened and I encourage readers to go in blind.

Throughout, the author eloquently shared history about both the climbers' personal lives as well as mountaineering and Alaskan mountains specifically. This was my first introduction to the Hidden Mountains in Alaska, and I loved the new-to-me setting. The second half of the book was an empathetic look at the issues climbers face when their identity gets taken away. I also immensely enjoyed the chapters dedicated to alpine rescue teams - they deserve so much respect.

All in all, highly recommend!

Not until I started reading hidden Mountains did I remember how much I disliked reading about hikers and hiking accidents. When I was in college I found those who like to climb mountains weather during the summer or in very icy conditions seem to only be happy with their next climb and although bragging rights would last for as long as it would take to prepare for the next. Mountain climbing is very dangerous and doing it an icy conditions is a pointless danger. They are not adding anything to the human condition and as a matter of fact most climbers miss out on the human experience altogether because wildlife is happening that’s sitting on top of a mountain. The only time they ever interact with those who don’t climb is when they need their expertise or they’re related to them in one way or another. That’s what happen with Emmett his girlfriend his best friend and his best friends girlfriend. Thanks to an old timer who had many achievements in climbing mountains especially those untouched by others he convinced them they too should do on team climbing and pick places that no one else had a recline before. On one of these excursions open mountain in a range called the hidden mountains in Alaska Emmett accident happened in the middle of an Alaskan winter rescue workers had to go out and save Emmett while at the same time risking their own life. If you’re looking for a book about adventure this may be it because it hurt my heart palpitating and I was so scared they wouldn’t be able to get him off the mountain thank God they have people so selfless that they would go and save these mountain climbers who really had no good reason for being there except they wanted to. I know this is coming up as negative and I do really have negative feelings when it comes to those who have no need for human contact except when they’re in need ever since I read the book about the father of Thor who died on Everest and left his wife to raise the four children just so he could have a thrill it just solidified my feelings about a sport that benefits no one a teal the same way about those two parachute for fun I’m sure some people do it in moderation but I have yet to meet those people. I’m glad image story turned out OK and I’m sorry for those who stories didn’t turn out as well it’s probably very ignorant of me to think all of these accidents could’ve been avoided the reason we as a people have come so far since living in caves is because they are those willing to do what some of us would never do and unlike the adventurous in the 1800s and early 1900s those doing it today or just doing it for the thrill and it must be one big thrill because that is a big risk to take. especially when I read in the book that there were those who flew to Pakistan while they were in the middle of a war declined the mountains in 1/3 of those who went needed rescuing… That don’t sound like gray dogs. Having said that if you like those who risk everything to gain only self important then you really need to read hidden mountains I really didn’t joy reading about him growing up in Connecticut but it was once I noticed how isolating he made his self that they would forgo family holidays to go sit on side of a mountain and again maybe I’m ignorant but that seems like a lonely life and a pointlessly dangerous one. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I've devoured title like Into Thin Air and No Way Down, where an intensely prepared group tackles the earth's tallest peaks in an intense live-or-die tale. But Wejchert sets his title apart by tackling a different kind of climbing disaster. One that describes the expeditions where no one died, but the injuries sustained profoundly changed the survivors' lives.
When four friends trekked into the Hidden Mountains to tackle an unnamed peak, they were well prepared and reasonably within the technical experience needed for this climb. But like every other disaster, luck holds more sway than any climber wants to admit, and one of the group takes a nasty fall.
As Wejchert describes the subsequent rescue mission, he takes the opportunity to dissect the generational divide in American climbing culture and our nearly nonexistent patchwork of search and rescue groups.
Though this is a tense and informative tale of an unfortunate 24 hour period deep in the Alaskan wilderness, it is also an argument to set up better support and search and rescue networks for the ever increasing climbing community.
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Two couples experienced mountain climbers one couple completes the climb safely the other couple the man has a terrible accident.The accident the rescue had my heart racing.The aftermath his injuries his decision to stop climbing the break up of his relationship kept me involved turning the pages totally involved.#netgalley #hiddenmountains

In 2018, two couples with many years of climbing experience between the four of them, set out to the Hidden Mountains range in Alaska to reach the summit of an area none of them had explored in the past. While the terrain was not considered difficult for their level of expertise, one of the climbers did suffer severe injuries from a rock fall. The story of their expedition and the subsequent rescue is the subject of this excellent book by Micheal Wejchert, himself a climber as well as an author.

Readers who have an interest in climbing, whether they are climbers themselves or just enjoy reading about mountaineering, like I do, will be captivated by not only the stories of the four climbers but also of the pararescuers, the mountains themselves and even a little bit about the author. On this last part, he didn’t insert himself into the story but instead explained how his past experiences gave him the knowledge to write about a certain situation or condition.

Not only is the story of the climb, accident, and rescue gripping, but a reader will also feel a range of emotions while the injured climber is recovering from his injuries and his long road to recovery. It includes a breakup with his climbing and relationship partner which makes reading about it emotional as well. This portion of the book was just as good for me as the actual climb. It should also be noted that Wejchert does a great balance of writing for novices and experts in climbing. There are explanations of some terms and actions that is helpful for those readers not familiar with the sport, but yet is not so simple as to bore a climbing expert – there are plenty of sections for them as well. It comes highly recommended for anyone interested in any aspect of climbing.

I wish to thank Ecco Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very fast paced read about two pairs of climbers who went climbing in the mountains of Alaska. Some of the peaks there had been unexplored and unfortunately there was an accident where one of the climbers was seriously injured. The book goes into the rescue and details life afterwards which give readers a glimpse into the seriousness and real danger that comes along with climbing. Overall, it was a very interesting read and would recommend to anyone interested in mountain climbing.