Left for Dead is not really about the mountain, the mountain is just the back drop. It’s about Beck. But, then it’s never really about the mountain. It’s always about the mountaineer.
Left for Dead by Beck Weathers
Artfully crafted by Beck’s ghost writer, Stephen Michaud, into an engaging memoir. Beck and later each member of his family, especially his wife Peach but also friends, even his personal trainer, join the narrative journeying the reader into his world. It provides a deeper insight into why people climb mountains. It openly deals with issues of depression, marital tension, love, passion and redemption combining into an enthralling peek into the human condition.
In a twist of events, Beck became blind in the death zone, was caught in a blizzard, spent the night in the open and his fellow climbers left him as he was deemed close to death. Beck awoke later that afternoon severely frostbitten and miraculously stumbled to camp. A brave helicopter pilot made the highest ever rescue. Beck required many medical operations and behavioral adjustments.
I also discovered how much I enjoyed the company of high altitude mountaineers. They have traits in common that I admire. For example, this kind of climbing entails misery. There’s not a lot of bitching and carrying on. They also tend to be fairly driven, and usually they’re successful at whatever their life’s work might be – Beck Weathers
I was reluctant at first to read a book by a ‘garrulous Texan’ as Jon Krakauer ‘politely’ describes Beck. But I’ve been drawn to mountaineering genre in general and to especially understand the 1996 Everest tragedy. Once I started I was enraptured. This book does not disappoint as you join Beck in his quest for the 7 summits while the tragedy unfolds, both on the mountain and at home.
Gripping reading which emotionally entangles the reader into Beck’s journey to physical recuperation, mental transformation and ultimately his redemption.
