At age 16 Chris Kopczynski carved into the handle of his ice axe the words "Everest/Eiger", marking his goal to climb the two mountains known as the highest and the hardest. He accomplished that goal by the age of 33, becoming the ninth American to summit Everest and the first American to summit both the North Face of the Eiger and Mt. Everest. With the climbing addiction in his blood, he set new goals and became the twelfth in the world to climb the highest peaks on seven continents. Chris lifelong odyssey to the top of the world includes the climbs, attempts and summits of every continents highest, hardest, and most significant mountains. He gives us the details, the stories of perseverance and survival as he achieved his dreams on Robson in the Canadian Rockies, Chimney Rock in Idaho, the Pamirs and Elbrus in the USSR, Denali in Alaska, Makalu in Nepal, Antarcticas Vinson, Chiles Aconcagua, Kosciuszko in Australia, and Africas Kilimanjaro and Carstensz. Kopczynski has climbed with John Roskelley for over 55 years becoming all-around mountaineers from their early days bouldering around Spokane and tackling the vertical and technical big walls of the Pacific Northwest to more challenging peaks around the world. Roskelley calls Chris the most underrated American mountaineer. With the publication of Chris life story, the climbing world can recognize and applaud the accomplishments of this premier world climber.
Chris Kopczynski has climbed with John Roskelley for over 55 years. From their early days bouldering around Spokane, tackling the vertical and technical big walls of the Pacific Northwest to more challenging peaks around the world, they grew to become all-around mountaineers. Roskelley calls Chris the most underrated American mountaineer. With the publication of Chris’s life story, the climbing world can recognize and applaud the accomplishments of this premier world climber.
"Into Thin Air" hooked me on reading about big mountain climbs, and "Highest and Hardest" did not disappoint. Starting with the authors childhood, readers see how Kopczynski first explored risk, adventure, and friendship. As Kopczynski begins to climb mountain after mountain, I cheered him on through the heavy storms, bivouacs, and relentless decisions. I gasped during his climb of the Eiger North Face and held my breath during some of his nail-biting moments on Everest. But I equally enjoyed reading about his climbs in Canada, Denali, etc. that taught him the mountaineering skills he would later use on other climbs.
Told in a straightforward manner with some technical detail, I appreciated that Kopczynski did not add unnecessary fluff to such grave stories. The "lessons learned" at the end of each chapter drove home his points in a succinct way. The pictures from various climbs interspersed with the stories brought the story to life.
Ill definitely be purchasing a copy for a friend with Everest ambitions. This book is for anyone with even a mild interest in mountaineering or outdoor feats, but it would also be enjoyable for readers who dont venture into risky mountain climbs.
Thank you to Netgalley and Falcon Press Publishing for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!"—Britta Todd, reviewer at Booked Up Millenials
