Review of THE THIRD POLE
Adventures on the roof of the world. And so much death.
An acquaintance of mine, Nelson Delis, has trekked up Everest four times. Most recently in spring of 2021. I watch his Instagram stories in awe thinking that, maybe, one day I might make as a goal to climb the tallest mountain in the world.
But then I read The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest by Mark Synnott, and I think that my goal of climbing Kilimanjaro might be more than enough for me.
Everest is the most famous mountain in the world. Towering above the Himalaya Mountains at just over 29,000 ft tall, it’s been summited by some 5,000+ climbers. The final push to the summit is called “the death zone” due to, well, deaths, because the human body severely struggles at this high an altitude.
Modern climbs on Everest aren’t what they were in the early and mid-20th century. Today Everest is littered with old equipment climbers don’t care to take down with them, aspirational climbers pay upwards of $80,000 for local Sherpa guides to give them their best chance at the summit and, most famously, the mountain can get seriously crowded. In 2019, Everest made headlines across the globe as traffic jams of climbers “broke” the mountain. Twelve people died that year.
But who was the first to stand on the top of the world? Officially, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit Everest in 1953. But what if they were second? There is evidence to suggest that it was George Mallory and Sandy Irvine who were the first to summit way back in 1924. But because they both died, presumably on the way down (when most climbers die, actually), and their camera had not yet been found, it could not be proven. Although Mallory’s body has since been discovered (and might now be mysteriously missing), Irving had yet to be found – with his camera.
This mystery drew mountaineer Mark Synnott to Everest in the 2019 season. The Third Pole recounts the mystery of Everest and Synnott’s ascent to the roof of the world. He tells an amazing story of not only his personal trek, but the history of Everest and many of the people that had also made their way up in that season.
Two things struck me about this book. First just how difficult the climb is. I mean, yea it’s Everest, but seeing clips from Instagram that filters for the best moments and knowing that literally thousands of people have made it to the top makes it seem attainable for someone like me. Synnott shares every raw detail and gives a real sense for how grueling the climb is.
Second was the death. So. Much. Death. And everything about it. Some people die due to mistakes or fall. But many just. . . die. “Sudden death” as it’s reassuringly called. Others are simply left behind because they are dying. Not dead yet, just dying on the side of the trail, abandoned, and passed by climbers as they steadfastly claim their prize. Then once you finally die up there, people can’t just bring you down. There is no one to call to remove your body. Instead, you just stay there for years, decades, as your clothing fades from the sun. Future climbers even use your body to rest against on their own ascent. And all these dead bodies are just part of the experience. It’s pretty gruesome.
I really enjoyed this book as it gave such a raw account of the mountain. The story telling was also phenomenal. I’d highly recommend it. I still have dreams to climb big mountains, but, for now, Everest is safely out of the question for me.
Published: April 2021
Format: Audio
If you think this sounds interesting, bookmark these other great reads:
Himalaya: A Human History by Ed Douglas (2021)
The Adventurer's Son: A Memoir by Roman Dial (2020)
Grinnell: America's Environmental Pioneer and His Restless Drive to Save the West by Jon Taliaferro (2019)
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