The Falling Season: Inside the Life and Death Drama of Aspen's Mountain Rescue Team

by Hal Clifford

* Offers an inside view of the dangers, emotions, and politics of a mountain rescue group

* Covers one of the most publicized mountain rescue operations of the Express Creek



To write fairly about mountain rescuers, journalist Hal Clifford was told, you must become one yourself. And so began the most challenging assignment of his career -- in the wilderness around Aspen, Colorado, where each year the destinies of a handful of skiers, hikers, and climbers intersect with those of their rescuers. The Falling Season is Clifford's thrilling account of an insider's life and time on one of America's premier mountain rescue teams. Giving new voice to the adrenaline rush, he recounts the harrowing moments and the against-the-clock, painstaking procedures of more than a dozen mountain rescues, including 1993's infamous Express Creek crisis and its attendant media circus.



Throughout, he profiles his teammates, dedicated volunteers who leave warm beds and meals at a moment's notice and brave unimaginably harsh conditions to save an injured stranger's life. Here are their thoughts and motivations as they dangle from cliff sides, risk avalanches, and wait for fateful words on static-filled radios. Unflinchingly honest, Clifford also talks about the divisive politics, personal struggles, egos, and occasional unhappy outcomes that are an inevitable part of rescuing life.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1995

Reviews

[Tom McCleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I read the Kindle version... steer clear of this. Odd fonts, limited functionality (nothing but location and percent complete).

The book content was 60% description of a dysfunctional Search team, 40% operational stuff (the exciting stuff) but that 40% was enough to keep me interested.

[Rebecca Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a volunteer/unpaid SAR professional, this book gets “it”...the infighting and politics and drama, and whatever the blessed intrinsic thing it is that led me to answer the pager six times in 10 days.

[Sasha Pravdic · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting stories but the book gets a little bogged down in hard-to-follow power struggles/hierarchies etc. It also suffers from the fact that it was written in the 90’s when there were no cell phones so it feels very dated.

[Nikki Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Everything I wanted and more, very well written. I'd like to have pinched Steve Crockett on the backs of his arms.

[Teo smite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting view of the Aspen search & Rescue team. Delves a bit too much into the politics for me.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Good for those who like inside stories of fire departments, rangers, and hiking books.

[Ellen MY · Rating 5 out of 5]

For people who live in mountain country and enjoy an off-piste lifestyle, this is a worthwhile read. It's a interesting but sad glimpse into the lives of those who rescue others at great risk

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very interesting to see what actually happens on a day to day basis for mountain rescue teams, especially before modern technology. It took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual rescues and logistics were very interesting, but the politics related to Mountain Rescue-Aspen and the Pitkin County Sheriffs' Office were a bit much for me.