Review by VernaVi -- The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro

[Verna Coy]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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It was the cover that first drew me to this book. The fantastic view of a mountain summit bathed in beautiful colors is the perfect backdrop for The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro. It sets the tone for this fast-paced mountaineering adventure. It's a seven-year journey from the lowest point in the author's life, to the highest point on earth.

After a series of life changes, David Mauro decides to take his brother in law up on an invitation to climb Mt McKinley (highest peak in North America). The journey is a tough one, and he learns a lot. One member of the team dropped out on the way up the mountain (going back down with another climbing team).

Each chapter highlights one of the mountains that the author climbed, and is a detailed journal of that expedition. One would expect that they would all read the same, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they did not. Mauro includes new insights and experiences throughout each endeavor, bringing the reader along for the ride. There is a particular life lesson attached to every climb he took, and it adds a fullness to the experience. In every battle we face in life, the difficulties are different, and the takeaways are unique.

I loved the way this book takes the reader on an emotional journey with the climbing teams. It outlines every hard-won victory along the way and shows the human side as well. Human weaknesses and strengths come out when standing in the face of adversity, and this book tells that tale well.

The author's comments about Alaska's Mt. McKinley are incredibly accurate. He mentions that Mt McKinley is massive enough to generate its weather systems. As an Alaskan, I live where I can see Mt. McKinley from my window, and we watch every day as the mountain whips itself into a hurricane of snow and wind. I live in a remote wilderness region, and when I was little, we used to listen to the climbers on Mt McKinley use their c.b. radios to communicate with Base Camp and other climbers. It was entertaining to listen to their progress as they reached one goal after another, it was also sad when bad things happened on the mountain. We always hoped the best for the climbers, but we knew Alaska is as deadly as it is beautiful. It's a fact climbers face head-on.

I couldn't find anything to dislike about this book. Mauro's writing is wonderfully expressive and entertaining. I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars. I'd give it more if I could. I believe it will appeal to anyone in love with the beauty of Alaska and other mountainous regions of our world. This book satisfies the hunger for adventure in all of us and shines a beautiful light through the human perspective of gaining high points in life.

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The Altitude Journals
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