A Day To Die For - 1996: Everest’s Worst Disaster – The Untold Story

Ratcliffe is no stranger to Everest. He first attempted the north side in 1993 and then again in 1995, summitting with Anatoli Boukreev. In 1996 he turned his sights to Everest’s south side and was a member of Henry Todd’s expedition. He reached the South Col on May 10, 1996 during the height of the storm raging higher on the mountain. He returned to the south side again in 1998, reaching 26,000’, and again in 1999 when he became the first British climber to ascend Everest from both the north and south. Ratcliffe carried a burden of guilt for ten years that he, and others, could have done more to help the stranded climbers in 1996. His five-year quest for answers has led to important discoveries which have not been previously covered. The main focus of this book, perhaps the final one of 21 books which describe the events of 1996, is on the weather. Ratcliffe delves into what forecasts were available, when, and who knew of them. He also questions why this information has not been covered in any of the preceding books as it’s primary to understanding how this tragedy occurred.