Review by jf47 -- The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
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Review by jf47 -- The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro chronicles an amazing set of experiences over seven years. It reads partly as an adventure travelogue, and partly as a personal voyage of discovery.
Without originally setting out to do so, the author became an experienced mountaineer. Not only that, he climbed the Seven Summits. That is, he successfully climbed the highest mountain on each continent (lists vary). If a July 2019 National Public Radio story is accurate, only around 500 people have achieved this goal. Starting in 2007 with Mount Denali in Alaska, he went on, roughly yearly, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Aconcagua in South America, the Vinson Massif in Antarctica, the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, finally finishing with Mount Everest in 2013. Remarkably, he was successful on the first attempt at each peak whereas most climbers require multiple attempts on several peaks.
For the author, the personal voyage was clearly more important than the mountains. The book opens with a recounting of a somewhat troubled childhood, an apparently successful early adulthood and career in financial planning, and then breakup of his marriage in middle age. Like many others, he struggled to remain a good father to his two teenage sons after his divorce, as well as trying to rebuild his personal identity. At a time when he was adrift, an invitation from his brother-in-law took him to Alaska. There he was to add human interest and perspective to a documentary film project as the novice climber on a team trying to climb Mount Denali. Somewhat to his own surprise, he made the summit, returned home safe and sound, got a commemorative tattoo of the mountain’s profile on his calf (a tradition he continued through the summits). He then tried to move on until he felt the call to climb again (and again, and again, and again).
Intermingled with the mountain climbing, the author recounts the challenges of parenthood, starting to date again (and finding a strong new love), and trying other new things. By a few coincidences, the author found himself regularly participating in an improvisational theater group. He credits that creative experience with giving him a place to feel good during some dark times. Both acting in front of an audience and taking on mountains to climb gave him a focus and purpose when needed.
The author emphasizes at times that he isn’t really a mountain climber. That is, although he may enjoy the beauty of the mountains that is not necessarily why he is there. His first experience in Alaska came when he was at a low point in his life, and needed to do something new. With one exception, he did not climb the rest of the Seven Summits until he felt a call to do so. The one time he climbed more with an eye to just achieving another summit, he had his worst experience. The mountains were a backdrop for his personal voyage.
I am pleased to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Aside from the fascinating subject matter, the text flowed well and was painstakingly edited. No major grammar issues stood out to me, with only one minor quibble. Namely, in the dedicatory paragraph the single semicolon should probably be a colon. Although it is hard to imagine the author going through such an expansive set of adventures again, his writing style is pleasing and I would be happy to try another of his books.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro chronicles an amazing set of experiences over seven years. It reads partly as an adventure travelogue, and partly as a personal voyage of discovery.
Without originally setting out to do so, the author became an experienced mountaineer. Not only that, he climbed the Seven Summits. That is, he successfully climbed the highest mountain on each continent (lists vary). If a July 2019 National Public Radio story is accurate, only around 500 people have achieved this goal. Starting in 2007 with Mount Denali in Alaska, he went on, roughly yearly, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Aconcagua in South America, the Vinson Massif in Antarctica, the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, finally finishing with Mount Everest in 2013. Remarkably, he was successful on the first attempt at each peak whereas most climbers require multiple attempts on several peaks.
For the author, the personal voyage was clearly more important than the mountains. The book opens with a recounting of a somewhat troubled childhood, an apparently successful early adulthood and career in financial planning, and then breakup of his marriage in middle age. Like many others, he struggled to remain a good father to his two teenage sons after his divorce, as well as trying to rebuild his personal identity. At a time when he was adrift, an invitation from his brother-in-law took him to Alaska. There he was to add human interest and perspective to a documentary film project as the novice climber on a team trying to climb Mount Denali. Somewhat to his own surprise, he made the summit, returned home safe and sound, got a commemorative tattoo of the mountain’s profile on his calf (a tradition he continued through the summits). He then tried to move on until he felt the call to climb again (and again, and again, and again).
Intermingled with the mountain climbing, the author recounts the challenges of parenthood, starting to date again (and finding a strong new love), and trying other new things. By a few coincidences, the author found himself regularly participating in an improvisational theater group. He credits that creative experience with giving him a place to feel good during some dark times. Both acting in front of an audience and taking on mountains to climb gave him a focus and purpose when needed.
The author emphasizes at times that he isn’t really a mountain climber. That is, although he may enjoy the beauty of the mountains that is not necessarily why he is there. His first experience in Alaska came when he was at a low point in his life, and needed to do something new. With one exception, he did not climb the rest of the Seven Summits until he felt a call to do so. The one time he climbed more with an eye to just achieving another summit, he had his worst experience. The mountains were a backdrop for his personal voyage.
I am pleased to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Aside from the fascinating subject matter, the text flowed well and was painstakingly edited. No major grammar issues stood out to me, with only one minor quibble. Namely, in the dedicatory paragraph the single semicolon should probably be a colon. Although it is hard to imagine the author going through such an expansive set of adventures again, his writing style is pleasing and I would be happy to try another of his books.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Reconfigurement by E. Alan Fleischauer
