Higher Than The Eagle Soars: A Path to Everest by Venables, Stephen (2008) Paperback

by Stephen Venables

Higher Than the Eagle Soars distills “the intense essence” of his Everest climb, concentrating on the drama of the final climb and nightmarish descent. It is an intimate and epic account of an event that confirmed Venables as the greatest British climber of his generation.I have been wanting for some time now to revisit the Everest climb. Although the book I wrote about it [ Alone at the Summit] was very successful and has appeared in four different editions, it conformed superficially to an “expedition book,” telling the whole story from beginning to end, with considerable technical detail. It would be good to go back and extract the intense essence of the story, concentrating on the drama of the final climb and nightmarish descent, making a grand finale to the book. Although Everest wasn’t the end of my climbing career, it was a big turning it had quelled the demon of ambition and I sensed that I would probably never do anything quite so extreme in the mountains. And, although we didn’t go seeking deliberately an epic near-death experience, it did turn out that way — the ultimate endurance test for which all the previous adventures seemed, retrospectively, to be a preparation.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Climbing, Outdoors

Paperback

First published October 23, 2007

Reviews

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The autobiographical story of Stephen Venables, a well known mountaineer most famous for his climb of Everest. I found the first few chapters heavy going, as we seem him grow up and find his way in the world, it felt a bit heavy with climbing terminology. However, when the adventures begin this book really hits the ground running, the last few chapters about Everest are incredible.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of climbing books generally and so a biographical work by Stephen Venables had a strong appeal for me as he is one of the foremost UK climbers of his generation.  I found the book an easy read which I really enjoyed covering his life from childhood to a new route up Everest without oxygen. At times it is idiosyncratic however that can also be said about most of the climbing books I've read.  I'll be buying another to read in due course.

[lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography of a climber from his childhood roots to on elf his highest achievements: first Brit to climb Everest without oxygen. Stephen Venables is an interesting writer, who is able to describe somewhat technical achievements in a manner in which a layperson can appreciate and stay interested. My third book by this author and I have enjoyed every one!

[Steve Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a good few climbing books and found this one up there with the best. It is an autobiographical account from childhood to a new route up Everest without oxygen. Having heard him talk about his achievements you know you are not going to get exaggeration or glorification, but his achievements are many. His writing can be idiosyncratic, however that can also be said about many climbing books. Having read other books by Venables I put him up with Simpson and Krakauer for consistently being an interesting author.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took far too long to get to the mountains. There seemed to be endless details about the early life and childhood of the author, which is not what I want to read in a book about climbing. I see the point of talking about first experience of the mountains or first climb etc but I don't want to read endless stories about the early years. Once we got past it, I still found the overall tone to be lacking in interest.

[Stuart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly let down by an over long warm up. I'm starting to get pretty bored with the formulaic childhood anecdotes at the start of every mountaineering memoir these days. Venables' childhood stories unfortunately did nothing to keep me engaged and I ended up putting the book down before we even got to the mountains. Shame.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love sitting on the sofa reading about high adventures and self inflicted hardship. Absolutely crazy!!!