Storm at the Summit of Mount Everest Read online

  Table of Contents

  How to Use This Book

  An Important Note

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Camp Four

  Chapter 2: Going Up

  Chapter 3: The Hillary Step

  Chapter 4: Top of the World

  Chapter 5: The Descent

  Chapter 6: Lost

  Chapter 7: Knife Ridge

  Chapter 8: On the Move

  Chapter 9: Ups and Downs

  Chapter 10: A Long, Cold Night

  Chapter 11: Strange Lights

  The Effects of High Altitude

  Everest’s Youngest Climber

  Other Famous Climbers

  About Ryan Jacobson

  About Deb Mercier

  Selected Bibliography

  For Lora, I knew your obsession with Mount Everest would come in handy some day. —Ryan

  For Cole and Kallan, may you always help each other off the mountain. —Deb

  A special thanks to Dan Downing, Chris Henderson and Dana Kuznar.

  Edited by Brett Ortler

  Cover design by Jonathan Norberg

  Copyright 2011 by Ryan Jacobson and Deb Mercier

  Published by Adventure Publications, Inc.

  820 Cleveland St. S

  Cambridge, MN 55008

  1-800-678-7006

  www.adventurepublications.net

  All rights reserved

  ISBN: 978-1-59193-275-8 (paperback)

  ISBN: 978-1-59193-348-9 (eBook)

  How to Use This Book

  As you read Storm at the Summit of Mount Everest, you will sometimes be asked to jump to a distant page. Please follow these instructions. Sometimes you will be asked to choose between two or more options. Decide which is best, and go to the corresponding page. (But be careful; some of the options will lead to disaster.) Finally, if a page offers no instructions or choices, simply turn to the next page.

  Remember, this is a story. The characters are motivated by fame and fortune, which creates more drama and makes your decisions harder. In truth, it is a rare climber who is motivated by these things. Climbers climb for the thrill and for the challenge. Accomplishment is their reward.

  This book is not intended to replace professional advice and/or training. The publisher and the authors disclaim any liability for any loss or injury that may result from the use of the information.

  Please, respect all wildlife and nature. Enjoy the story, and good luck!

  Note: Your choices will always be located on their own separate page. This allows us to ensure that your choices appear together, with no page breaks in between.

  An Important Note

  This ebook is best read by holding your eReader vertically, as shown above. It allows the book to be viewed one page at a time, rather than two. This helps to avoid any potential confusion, after making a choice, about which page to read next.

  Prologue

  Climbing Mount Everest isn’t something you decide to do one day. It’s something you plan for years. First of all, it isn’t cheap. There’s the training, equipment, permits and airplane tickets. There’s time away from home, which means food and other supplies. And let’s not forget the fee for being on an expedition team. Altogether, it costs more than $100,000 per person. This expedition includes both you and your sister—so that price doubles.

  Secondly, climbing Mount Everest takes a lot of time: eight weeks or longer. People don’t just travel to Everest, climb to the top and then go home. No, it’s a series of ups and downs. Literally.

  You climb a little ways. Then you climb back. You climb a little higher. Then you climb down again. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. After all, the higher you go, the thinner the air gets. And the thinner the air gets, the harder it is to breathe. Climbers need days, and even weeks, for their bodies to adjust.

  Your trip to the world’s tallest mountain, located in Asia near China’s southwestern border, is a dream come true. But it’s so much more than that. If you and your sister reach the summit (and make it down again), you will be the youngest climbers ever to do so. And with a record like that, you’ll make a ton of money. Books will be written; movies will be made. You’ll be interviewed on every channel. You’ll star in your own TV commercials. There’s even talk of a video game based on your climb!

  So far, so good. You’ve made it to the fourth and final camp, your last stop before the summit. Most of the hard work is already behind you. You hiked up to Base Camp, more than 17,000 feet above sea level, and you stayed there for many days to get used to the higher altitude.

  Base Camp was your “home,” and every moment since you arrived has been a struggle to get energized and catch your breath. Thankfully, the Sherpas are with you to help. They live near the mountain, so their bodies are better adapted to these higher altitudes.

  Expedition teams hire Sherpas to carry supplies up the mountain, to set up tents and to help the paying climbers however they can. Without your team’s Sherpas, you would not have made it this far.

  Your first trip farther up the mountain was to the Khumbu Ice Fall, one of the most dangerous places on Everest. Here, the ice moves and shifts at random. If a climber is in the wrong place when it does, he could get seriously hurt—or killed. There are also huge crevasses that must be crossed by walking over ladders tied together. (The Ice Fall has been your least favorite part of Mount Everest, and you’ve had to cross it several times.)

  The next day, you climbed from Base Camp to Camp One, about 19,600 feet above sea level. You spent the night in a tent before returning to Base Camp.

  That was followed by a climb and a four-night stay at Camp Two—21,000 feet high—before returning to Base Camp again.

  Next you went up and slept at Camp Two, and up at Camp Three, at 23,600 feet. Then it was back to Camp Two. And back to Base Camp.

  After all of that, it was finally time for the big push to the top of Mount Everest. You climbed to Camp Two and slept. Then you spent a night in Camp Three. And now you’ve made it to Camp Four, where you’re waiting to go for the summit...

  Chapter 1:

  Camp Four

  You can’t believe it: You’re actually here. A tent’s thin nylon walls are all that stand between you and the cold, cruel air. You’re 26,100 feet above sea level, at Mount Everest’s Camp Four. It took more than a year of training for your parents to let you and your twin sister, Zoey, go on this expedition. Weightlifting, aerobics, running, even yoga—you and Zoey have done it all. Ugh! The thought of yoga makes you groan.

  Zoey looks up from checking her backpack for the hundredth time. “What’s wrong, Zach?”

  As twins, you’ve always been able to read each others’ moods almost instantly.

  “Nothing, Zo. Just yoga.”

  Zoey laughs. “I didn’t like yoga and balance training either. Worth it, though,” she adds. She grabs another pair of glove liners and stuffs them into her pack.

  “I know what you mean,” you tell her. “Mom and Dad have invested everything, even the house. We have a shot at being the youngest climbers ever to reach Mount Everest’s summit.”

  Zoey grins. “Yep, if we make it, fortune and fame will be ours.”

  Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Neither of you says it aloud. But you know that, if you fail, the corporate sponsors ready to pay millions will scatter to the wind. They’ll whisk away like the snow outside your tent. Your family will be broke—and homeless.

  You he
ar heavy boots crunching toward your small shelter. The front of your tent shakes, and the zipper rakes open. A rough, bearded face appears in the opening.

  “Hey, Uncle Ned,” you say, shivering as a blast of cold wind hits you.

  Ned’s face breaks into a grin. “Almost ready?”

  You check your watch. It’s 10:30 p.m. Your team leaves for the summit in half an hour.

  “We’ll be ready,” you answer.

  Ned laughs and melts back into the night.

  He’s the other reason your parents let you come to Mount Everest. Your family is a climbing family and has been for as long as you can remember. Your mom and dad even met on Mount McKinley’s Karsten Ridge.

  Ned, your mom’s brother, runs Mountain Quest. It’s a mountain climbing service that helps people reach the tallest peak in the world: mighty Mount Everest. If it weren’t for Ned, you probably wouldn’t be here.

  Zoey pauses and looks up from her pack, her eyes wide and serious. She twists a strand of blonde hair around her finger. “You really think we’re ready, Zach?”

  The question surprises you. Of course you’re ready. Didn’t you make it all the way to Camp Four? Haven’t you spent the past few weeks climbing up and down between the other camps? You’ve already shown this mountain who’s boss. What’s another 3,000 feet?

  “Come on, Zoey,” you say. “We’ve been training for, like, ever. Besides, we’ve got Ned and a whole team of people out there. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  Zoey doesn’t answer; she doesn’t have to. You know what she’s thinking. Since the first climbers attempted to reach the summit in the early 1920s, more than 200 people have died, mostly on their way down. Conditions near the top of the mountain are so dangerous, it’s called the “death zone.” Many bodies remain frozen there, within view of the trail, because it would be too difficult to bring them down the mountain.

  You force away a shiver and you grab your pack. It’s already filled with most of what you need, but you have some extra room. There are a few more things you’d like to bring, but not all of it will fit. After you shift your gear around, you have room for four more items.

  Choose four of the following items. Note your choices so you remember what’s in your pack. But be careful: The items you bring might mean the difference between life and death.

  Batteries: You have a fresh set of batteries in your headlamp, but you’re not sure how long they’ll last. Running out of light could pose a real danger.

  Compass: If you get lost or separated from the rest of your team, this may be the only thing that keeps you on track.

  Crampon repair kit: The crampons on your boots are sharp and ready to go. But if one should break, you’ll need to fix it in order to continue climbing.

  “Dex” shot: Some climbers choose to carry a syringe of dexamethasone. It’s a powerful medicine that can temporarily offset the effects of mountain sickness.

  Extra gloves: You will be wearing a heavy-duty pair of climbing gloves, but an extra pair—especially in this harsh, high altitude—never hurts.

  Extra oxygen: Right now, there are enough canisters of oxygen for everyone on your team. But if the climb takes too long, you may need an extra boost.

  GPS: If you get lost or separated from the rest of your team, this item will tell you exactly where you are and what path you should take.

  Rope: Whether you are climbing Mount Everest or hiking through the woods, this handy and versatile item can do a lot for you.

  School flag: Many climbers put their country’s flag at the summit. Your math teacher promised no homework for a year if you leave your school flag at the top.

  Thermos of hot tea: Dehydration is a real threat when climbing. You are already bringing two liters of hot water, but more hot tea could keep you energized.

  After you’ve made your choices, continue to the next page.

  It’s 10:55 p.m. You and Zoey crawl out of your tent and finish gearing up. You pull on the outer layer of your coat and your double-layer cap. You fix crampons to your boots, and you check the flow of oxygen into your mask. You shrug your heavy pack onto your shoulders.

  Above you, the stars are so bright and clear that you feel as if you could touch them. Behind you, a cluster of small, flapping yellow tents dot the landscape. On your right, a bizarre graveyard of oxygen canisters adds to the strange setting. The rocky landscape of Camp Four could just as well be the moon.

  “I feel like Darth Vader with a Wookiee on my back,” you tell Zoey.

  She grins behind her mask.

  Uncle Ned gathers your team of nine: you, Zoey, Will Owens, Leslie Quaid, Kenji Sherpa, Fetang Sherpa, Jigmi Sherpa and Nawa Sherpa. The wind tugs at your jacket, and you feel a sudden sense of loneliness. The weight of what you’re about to attempt presses onto your shoulders. It takes away what little breath you have.

  Zoey seems to sense your uneasiness; she punches your arm lightly. You don’t feel so alone after all.

  “We turn around at 1:00 p.m. No later,” orders Ned.

  The air is thin up here. With his oxygen mask off, Ned strains to breathe. He looks at each of you in turn and waits to see you nod in agreement.

  After you do, he slides his oxygen mask back into place. Then Ned leads the way as you begin your final ascent to the top.

  Chapter 2:

  Going Up

  You move upward, single file, no one speaking. Ned leads the line, making sure the ropes are securely fixed to the ice. Kenji helps him. Leslie Quaid follows Kenji, then Nawa. You’re behind Nawa, watching his bright red cap bob through the frigid night. You feel alone, even with Zoey right behind you and Nawa not far ahead. But that’s okay; it’s not a lonely kind of alone. It allows you to think, to really enjoy what you’re doing. Fetang, Will Owens and Jigmi trail Zoey at the rear of the line.

  Inside your oxygen mask, your breath sounds loud and strained. You wonder if the mask is making it harder to breathe. You lift it from your face for a moment. Your head instantly spins; you stumble; your lungs scream for air. Zoey catches up to you and slaps your mask back into place.

  “What are you thinking?” she scolds.

  “I don’t know,” you say truthfully. With the flow of oxygen, your head clears. It’s just a moment after you’ve done it, but you can’t imagine why you would remove your mask. You give Zoey a quick smile. “Thanks, Zo.”

  Nawa turns around, and you give him a thumbs-up to let him know you’re okay. And so the climb continues.

  Ahead of you, a lighted squiggle moves up a dark wall. It takes you a moment to realize it, but you are seeing another team of climbers making their own attempt for the summit.

  The moon moves above the peak of Makalu, another mountain in the range. The snow beneath your boots suddenly glows with an unearthly light. Ned sends a message back along the line of climbers: “Turn off your headlamps. There’s plenty of light from the moon—no need to waste your batteries.”

  The climb is steep and slippery. You dig your crampons into the ice with each step, driving home your ice axe to help you hang on. You make sure to clip your harness into the ropes Uncle Ned has secured. Without the ropes, one wrong step could send you sliding off the edge of the mountain.

  Your body aches with cold, and you’re more tired than you’ve ever been before. But you feel like you’re on top of the world—because you almost are.

  But soon, the bitter winds begin to take their toll. Each breath comes with a wheeze, and your head starts to throb. Hours pass, and each icy step becomes harder than the last. You grit your teeth and bear it. It’s then that you see a thin line of blue light in the east: the sunrise!

  Uncle Ned stops, signaling that it’s time for a rest. You must have made it all the way to the Balcony, the small platform where climbers usually rest before reaching the South Summit, a peak below the
main summit.

  Everyone collapses in relief, even the Sherpas. You plop onto the ground, next to your sister. Her knees are drawn up, under her chin. You can’t see her eyes through her goggles.

  “Are you okay?” you ask.

  For a moment, you think Zoey didn’t hear you. But then she nods twice, as if speaking is too much effort.

  The sun rises a little bit higher, and light explodes over the neighboring peaks. It seems like you can see the edge of the world in every direction. The spectacular views renew your energy. Your quaking muscles calm, and your head stops pounding. You wiggle your toes and stomp your boots on the ground. Despite your good mood, frostbite is digging in with its sharp, frozen teeth.

  Everyone changes to a fresh canister of oxygen. Ned helps Zoey. Her shaking hands fumble with the straps. Ned leans close to talk with her. You cannot hear what they say. The howling wind scatters their words. Zoey shakes her head in a way you’ve seen many times before. It means she’s arguing. And when Zoey argues, she almost always wins.

  Ned stands back and looks at Zoey, as if considering something. Finally he nods, and Zoey gives you a weak thumbs-up.

  The line forms again, and you inch your way toward the South Summit, another 1,000 feet up. Your lungs scream for more air. Your legs beg for rest. Each finger feels like a swollen slab of ice. Somehow, you keep going.

  You focus straight ahead, following Nawa’s red cap. Each time you glance backward, Zoey seems farther from you. You can’t tell if she’s slowing down or if what you’re seeing is just a trick of the mountain’s thin air. Your thoughts feel fuzzy around the edges.

  Your exhausted group finally crowds onto a small plateau no bigger than your family’s dining room table. It’s the South Summit—28,700 feet high. And there, just around the corner, you see the summit of Mount Everest. It’s so close; you feel like you can almost reach out and touch the white-capped peak. You are only a couple of hours away from your family’s bright future.