Mount Everest

Mount Everest, called Chomolungma by the Tibetans, which approximately means "Goddess Mother of he Snow." Everest is the world's tallest mountain and the focus of Messner's effort as depicted in this book to climb it solo, without artificial oxygen or other "high-tech" aids. Located in a section of the Himalayan range that forms the border between Tibet and Nepal, the mountain is 8,848 meters tall. Its changeable weather, threat of avalanches, dangerous crevasses, snow and ice, and sheer height pose formidable challenges to Messner and make the mountain a central player in the drama of the book.

Tibet

Tibet is the long-isolated country on the northern side of Everest and surrounded by China whose troops occupy it. Messner gets permission from the Chinese government to make his assault on Everest from the Tibetan side. Throughout much of the book, Messner marvels at the majesty of the Tibetan...