Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition - Softcover

John Roskelley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0898867398 ISBN 13: 9780898867398

Publisher: Mountaineers Books, 2000

Synopsis

In 1976, John Roskelley joined an expedition to climb Nanda Devi, a 26,645-foot peak in India's remote northwest frontier. What unfolded during this climb was a story of strong emotion, conflicting ambitions, death and victory, desire and regret.
This is the story of Will Unsoeld, the expedition leader who supported the participation of his young daughter, who was named after the mountain they were climbing, and Nanda Devi Unsoeld, the idealistic, free-spirited woman determined to scale the mountain with her father. It is also the story of John Roskelley, who was instrumental in the success of putting three people on the top of Nanda Devi. Roskelley is outspoken and honest about an expedition that unraveled in the face of adversity, pulled itself together under torturous circumstances to fulfill its ambitions and goals, yet ended tragically high on the mountain.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

This is the story of an American-Indian expedition to Nanda Devi, the second highest peak in India, and Nanda Devi Unsoeld, the daughter of Willi Unsoeld, who made the first ascent of the West Ridge of Everest with Tom Horbein in 1963. The free-spirited, 22-year old Nanda Devi, who was named after the mountain, convinced her father and Ad Carter, a former member of the 1936 first ascent team with Tillman and Odell, to lead the expedition. Unsoeld's and Carter's selection of a climbing team with vast differences in experience, and their choice of the techincally difficult and dangerous route on the Northwest Face almost proved to be too much for the team to overcome. John Roskelley is out-spoken and honest about an expedition that unraveled in the face of adversity, pulled itself together under torturous circumstances to fulfill its ambitions and goals, yet ended tragically high on the mountain. He speaks with the wisdom and authority of tireless dedication and grueling preparedness. This is a story not to be forgotten.

About the Author:

Author and photographer John Roskelley is a dabbler in everthing outdoors. If he's not dodging rocks on some alpine face in Canada or scratching his way up a frozen waterfall, John can be found hunting pheasants along the breaks of the Snake River or paddling the Columbia from source to mouth. Adventuring flows in his blood. In his first half century, John fought his way up four of the highest peaks on earth, including K2 and Everest, plus a plethora of devilishly hard, unclimbed Himalayan mountain faces and ridges.

John's occupation changes as frequently as the weather. A graduate of Washington State University in geology, he's worked as a geologist, a marking consultant, an elected Spokane County commissioner, and a governor appointee to the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board. Through the years, he has written four books and numerous national magazine articles. His photography has been on the cover of National Geographic and other national magazines.

John lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife, Joyce. They have been married since 1972 and have three wonderful and productive kids, Dawn, Jess, and Jordan.

About this edition

• Publisher: Mountaineers Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0898867398
• ISBN 13: 9780898867398
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 236