For all but an elite handful of people in the world, Mount Everest is out of reach. The tallest peak in the world, it attracts hundreds of climbers each year, and the lucky ones make it to the top and back down again. But one man has spent more time on that mountain's summit than anyone else. Apa Sherpa has climbed Everest a record 16 times, and has announced that this spring, he will make a 17th summit bid. Sherpa lives in Salt Lake City, and for this climb, he is gathering an all-Sherpa group, that will include Lhakpa Gelu, who also lives in Utah and who holds the record for fastest climb to the top of Everest at 10 hours and 56 minutes. Sherpa says the historic climb about the "Super Sherpa" team will be filmed.(Photo from Everestnews.com)
2 comments:
Wow, going for number 17!! That is such an impressive climb. I have watched a few videos of people climbing Mount Everest and I never tire of watching them. The summet photos are awesome.
Through this climb, Apa hopes the world will hear the Sherpa story.
Beyond the Summit is the first work to dramatize the lives of Sherpas in fiction. details of their culture and religion are interwoven in a tale of romance and high adventure. It has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, an Everest expedition from the porter's point of view.
Barnes and Noble Review
Average Rating: *****
07/07/2006
"Best book on Nepal ever... This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a higly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended."
-- John (college professor)
Amazon Reviews:
***** (5 stars) Truth and fiction
September 14, 2006
Reviewer:Bernhard Fassl (Utah, USA)
This book covers the daily lives of people in the Himalayas. It not even goes beyond the summit but beyond the Shangri_la image often painted by visitors, people in search of spirituality. The story in itself is immensely spiritual but not the circumstances under which life has to take place.
I represent a volunteer organization IPPG (International porter protection group, check us out at [...]) that gives high altitude porters a voice and I am depply touched by Linda LeBlanc's account which is more truth than fiction.
Bernhard Fassl MD
Below are selections from reviews. To read the complete ones and excerpts go to www.beyondthesummit-novel.com
A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection. Midwest Book Review
LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains. Boulder Daily Camera
LeBlanc's vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read. Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week
A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there. USABookNews.com
A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest. EverestNews.com
Memorable characters and harrowing encounters with the mountains keep the action moving with a vibrant balance of vivid description and dialogue. Literary Cafe Host, Healdsburg, CA
This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing. Wick Downing, author of nine novels
The book is available from amazon.com, chesslerbooks.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders Stores, and the web site for an autographed copy.
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