Beyond the Limits: A Woman's Triumph on Everest

by Stacy Allison, Peter Carlin

The first American woman to reach the summit of Everest recounts her ascent, describing the grueling training she endured, the constant danger of the climb, close calls, and the pressing threat of death. 40,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Adventure, Mountaineering, Nonfiction, Biography, Leadership, Travel

282 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Tatasoutsidevoice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone crazy enough to summit Everest should have their head examined (IMHO). That said, i'm always interested in adventure books (esp hiking/climbing). Even better when it's told from a woman's perspective. Stacy Allison is an articulate author who writes well. Great insight and understanding. Women are strong, intelligent, superior individuals; it's time we recognized ourselves as such and PROPEL EACH OTHER THE F*CK FORWARD. :) (Excuse my language). Highly recommended.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quick and interesting. The author and I are close to the same age, but that is the ONLY thing I could possibly find in common with her This started with her story of how, at a family gathering at age seven, she shoved aside the boys trying to climb up the inside of a large, dead tree, and did it herself,climbed out a hole onto a branch, got stuck and had to be rescued by her father. I, on the other hand, would go hunt ladybugs if my silly friends insisted on playing on the monkey bars, which I would never go NEAR. A person could FALL. I guess this helps explain my fascination with people who climb things, because my idea of bravery is the other day when I LEANED OUT A LITTLE WAYS OVER the second floor railing of my apartment to see if the mailperson had finished. Whew. Survived it.
She spends a bit of time on her failed marriage to an abusive control freak, this surprised me that such a physically strong and seemingly fearless person would have been so dominated by this creep, but I guess 30 years ago information and support would have been considerably harder to come by. And it does happen.
The detailed harrowing accounts of her various big climbs, including the two trips to Everest, are fascinating, as I shake my head in bewilderment that anyone would do this. Aren't hobbies supposed to be FUN?

[Sally Edsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A minority of mountaineering books are written by or about women (understandable, they comprising a minority of mountaineers).

This is well worth reading, though unlikely to appeal to those not already interested practioners - armchair or otherwise - of scaling great heights in incredibly uncomfortable conditions.

One aspect I was really interested in was Allison's no-holds barred depiction of some of the peccadilloes of those she is/was closest to. I think of Scott Fischer - the gungho boys-own daredevil with whom she had an unsuccessful attempt on Everest and with whom she worked. It provides rather an interesting insight into the character of someone who died in the infamous 1996 storms on Everest so vividly depicted in many books, most notably, Jon Krakeur's Into Thin Air.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but from Allison's portrayal, it's almost a case of "No wonder!"

[Shanna, Clearing the Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an "orphan book" find (books left on sidewalks; try to rescue them all before rain ruins them and then keep or donate) a few years back. I finally started it just before the lockdown in March, and was devouring it on the commute to and from the theatre (sometimes even backstage between cues!). I finished the last few chapters after getting home on the night we were told all theatre in NYC was being put on hold.
.
Stacy is the first American woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, though not without many setbacks in her climbing journey. We also share a last name, but no relation, which provided a soft spot in my heart for her right from the start. I'm looking forward to reading her second memoir when libraries open again.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrower this from the library...I truly admire what Stacy did throughout her climbing career, but after a while I got a little irritated with her, especially with regard to her relationships. I guess I would have liked a little less about that and more about the climbs and trips themselves. It's still a good read though.

[Sherry Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacy Allison stood on the summit of Mount Everest in 1998the first American woman ever to reach the highest point on Earth. Beyond the Limits is the fascinating and inspiring account of how she built strength and skill to join the remarkable community of elite mountain climbers.

[Mazola1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Beyond The Limits, Stacy Allison tells what it took to become the first American woman to summit Mount Everest. That would be a lot of hard work, innate climbing ability, a strong spirit, the drive to persist in the face of obstacles, and a bit of luck. Allison tells how she overcame difficulties in her climbing and professional life to stand in triumph at the top of the world's highest mountain.

I couldn't help but compare Stacy Allison's story with that of Alison Hargreaves, the British climber who also climbed Mount Everest and was later killed descending K2. If only Hargreaves had been able to break free of an abusive husband, as Allison did, perhaps her story would have had a happier high point.

[Sylvie O'rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a suspenseful tale of risk taking and guts. It is the story of the first American Woman to summit Everest. I don't understand the drive that people have to endanger their lives in this way and I don't accept the explanation of some that they climb dangerous mountains simply 'because they're there." Stacy explains it this way: "You find your talent, and see how far it will take you. You do what makes you feel the most alive." It makes me very glad happy that I need much less than that to feel alive. Good read and hard to put down. You just want to keep going to see what happens next.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was part mountain adventure story and part memoir. I like memoirs, so I was fine with the extra padding in the beginning of the book - the explanation of why the author climbs mountains and the back-story behind her successful climb of Everest. She clearly has a lot of strength, stamina, and amazing determination. She described the politics of the expedition party objectively, without judging or coloring the facts with her own opinions.

[Hillery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Mount Everest. I enjoyed reading this book. Stacy overcame great obstacles to realize her dream. She is an example to everyone that anything is possible.

[Chuan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of this book. It was interesting to read about climbing but that's about it. Her personal story just didn't captivate me like the descriptions of the mountains did. Maybe because I am not into extreme sports? But I felt like reading the book is learning about a kind of torture.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books about climbs up Mt. Everest, but this one provides some details that books written by men didn't include. Hard to put down -- I kept thinking that she must have survived if she wrote the book!

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

now this is something i really enjoyed. reading about a woman on a mountain. does it get better than that? not for me.

[Sbuckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book as inspiration for my Mount Rainier climb. Interesting memoire.of the first american women to climb Mt Everest in 1988.

[Sherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

She could have done without talking about her personal relationships. I stopped reading when she got knocked by Mark.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of the first woman from North America to summmit Mt. Everest.