About the Book In the spring of 1996, Lou Kasischke joined renowned climber Rob Hall's Mount Everest expedition. When he said goodbye to his wife, Sandy, he knew he faced major physical and mental challenges against rock, snow, ice, avalanches, and extreme high altitude to climb the highest mountain in in the world. What Lou didn't know was that he also stood at the threshold of a living hell. Six weeks later near the top, things went wrong. Lou and his fellow climbers faced a challenge even greater than the mountain - the internal struggle about what to do when you are close, but out of time. There were no second chances. Decisions were made. Some lived. Some died. It was the worst tragedy in Mount Everest history. Lou wrote his account of the events 16 years ago in the aftermath of the tragedy, but only now is he ready to let it go. He tells two stories. One is about the historic events. His perspective and analysis about what happened and what went wrong have never been told, and his account differs markedly from what others have written. The truth in the story depends on who is telling it. Lou Kasischke believes that some of the truth may never be told. Lou also tells a very personal story about how he came back home. An inspiring story about where to go for inner strength when facing a tough decision. A story about his wife Sandy's part in his survival. A story about what he heard, after the wind – the voice of the heart. A love story. Lou Kasischke is retired and lives with his wife, Sandy, in northern Michigan. He remains active with alpine sports and other endurance challenges in the great outdoors. |
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Note to Reader | |
1 | Dilemma at Noon |
2 | The Ritual |
3 | A Story I Can Tell |
4 | The Last Supper |
5 | Katmandu and 1995 |
6 | Into the Khumbu |
7 | Base Camp – 17,500 Feet |
8 | The Leadership Team |
9 | The Big Picture |
10 | Khumbu Icefall |
11 | The "Same Day" Decision |
12 | Sandy Back Home – May 4 |
13 | Before First Light |
14 | The Lhotse Face |
15 | Suffering |
16 | A Slow Death |
17 | The South Col |
18 | Decisions at High Camp |
19 | Above the South Col |
20 | The Balcony |
21 | Up the Ridge |
22 | I Can Do This |
23 | After the Wind |
24 | Burning Daylight |
25 | Out of Time |
26 | One Hour Later |
27 | Crossing Paths and Into the Clouds |
28 | Sandy Back Home – May 10 |
29 | Blinded by Light |
30 | Down into Darkness |
31 | Some are Dead. Most are Missing. |
32 | End of Day – May 11 |
33 | My Deepest Darkness |
34 | The Roar of Rage |
35 | The Dead Guy is Still Alive |
36 | Blinded by Tears |
37 | Sandy Back Home – May 13 |
38 | The Evening and the Mourning |
39 | The Hedge |
40 | On My Way Back Home |
41 | Back Home – May 18 |
42 | The Last Climb |
Mountaineering Experiences | |
About the Author | |