Review by Sophia29May -- The Altitude Journals
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Sophia29May
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- Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
Review by Sophia29May -- The Altitude Journals
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever heard in the news that some people died in Everest? Did you then wonder and ask yourself what was wrong with these people who risked their live to climb? Well a very good answer to that comes from The Altitude Journals by David j. Mauro. This wonderful autobiography could not be written in more open and honest way. If you are interested about adventures, life changes or life chances, then this book is the one for you.
David J. Mauro has summitted the seven highest mountains in the seven different continents. He had listened his calls, believing in them that they will mean something to him and give him good life lessons. And he acted upon them. Because he had suffered almost all his life. He had poor childhood without having his father around. For years he could not forgive himself to lose his dear brother to alcoholism. Now after happy marriage years, when he was trying to deal with his divorce, his brother-in law offered him to be a non climber for his next Denali expedition. Dave liked that someone believes that he can do such a thing... So the calls begin...
Dave had no control over the calls even he wished them to be in beaches instead. But soon he trusted them upon his life. In the beginning, he had nothing to lose so it was easy to go after them. After first summit, he gains his confidence. Then after the next summits, he forgives himself, his father and he shreds his depression over his divorce. He starts to believe in love again. He finds a supportive and caring partner. Now he becomes fearful to lose his loved ones. Every summit he holds his loved ones photos with him in the summit photos and he scatters the ashes of his deceased brother to honour him.
Dave Mauro gives information about all different highest mountains. Not so surprisingly all has different surroundings; some in the middle of worlds, some in the middle of warzone, some in the middle of a jungle with a threat to be kidnapped or be eaten. These are extremely harsh conditions. They all are dangerous in different levels and require different level of training. But after all this, still none of the mountains will care if you stay alive or die. The award of making to the summit will stay with you like a tattoo. May be questioning why he did it or what he will do next is nonsense when the award is at stake.
In this book I learned about the altitude effects in human body. Interesting to see local climbers who are paid to carry freight can climb with less effort. One Sherpa was wearing a rain jacket instead of full frost tolerant gear or other one was carrying a baby in her back in the muddy path with no boots as if it was the most natural thing... Dave also mentions about how badly Everest treated and turned into a garbage place. Whatsmore, there are facts, feelings, thoughts, Ozone Brotherhood and funny dress ups...
I liked the fact that the book includes the photos which made me wonder about some further photos in his blog. To be honest, reading him summitting it did not make me feel like I was part of it but the photos made me understand the summit feel. Yet all stays as his own very personal achievement but an unbelievable story to others. This story deserves to be read and get 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Altitude Journals
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Have you ever heard in the news that some people died in Everest? Did you then wonder and ask yourself what was wrong with these people who risked their live to climb? Well a very good answer to that comes from The Altitude Journals by David j. Mauro. This wonderful autobiography could not be written in more open and honest way. If you are interested about adventures, life changes or life chances, then this book is the one for you.
David J. Mauro has summitted the seven highest mountains in the seven different continents. He had listened his calls, believing in them that they will mean something to him and give him good life lessons. And he acted upon them. Because he had suffered almost all his life. He had poor childhood without having his father around. For years he could not forgive himself to lose his dear brother to alcoholism. Now after happy marriage years, when he was trying to deal with his divorce, his brother-in law offered him to be a non climber for his next Denali expedition. Dave liked that someone believes that he can do such a thing... So the calls begin...
Dave had no control over the calls even he wished them to be in beaches instead. But soon he trusted them upon his life. In the beginning, he had nothing to lose so it was easy to go after them. After first summit, he gains his confidence. Then after the next summits, he forgives himself, his father and he shreds his depression over his divorce. He starts to believe in love again. He finds a supportive and caring partner. Now he becomes fearful to lose his loved ones. Every summit he holds his loved ones photos with him in the summit photos and he scatters the ashes of his deceased brother to honour him.
Dave Mauro gives information about all different highest mountains. Not so surprisingly all has different surroundings; some in the middle of worlds, some in the middle of warzone, some in the middle of a jungle with a threat to be kidnapped or be eaten. These are extremely harsh conditions. They all are dangerous in different levels and require different level of training. But after all this, still none of the mountains will care if you stay alive or die. The award of making to the summit will stay with you like a tattoo. May be questioning why he did it or what he will do next is nonsense when the award is at stake.
In this book I learned about the altitude effects in human body. Interesting to see local climbers who are paid to carry freight can climb with less effort. One Sherpa was wearing a rain jacket instead of full frost tolerant gear or other one was carrying a baby in her back in the muddy path with no boots as if it was the most natural thing... Dave also mentions about how badly Everest treated and turned into a garbage place. Whatsmore, there are facts, feelings, thoughts, Ozone Brotherhood and funny dress ups...
I liked the fact that the book includes the photos which made me wonder about some further photos in his blog. To be honest, reading him summitting it did not make me feel like I was part of it but the photos made me understand the summit feel. Yet all stays as his own very personal achievement but an unbelievable story to others. This story deserves to be read and get 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
