High Crimes

The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed

By: Michael Kodas

Narrated by: Holter Graham

High Crimes is journalist Michael Kodas's gripping account of life on top of the world--where man is every bit as deadly as Mother Nature.

In the years following the publication of Into Thin Air, much has changed on Mount Everest. Among all the books documenting the glorious adventures in mountains around the world, none details how the recent infusion of wealthy climbers is drawing crime to the highest place on the planet. The change is caused both by a tremendous boom in traffic, and a new class of parasitic and predatory adventurer. It's likely that Jon Krakauer would not recognize the camps that he visited on Mount Everest almost a decade ago. This book takes readers on a harrowing tour of the criminal underworld on the slopes of the world's most majestic mountain.

High Crimes describes two major expeditions: the tragic story of Nils Antezana, a climber who died on Everest after he was abandoned by his guide; as well as the author's own story of his participation in the Connecticut Everest Expedition, guided by George Dijmarescu and his wife and climbing partner, Lhakpa Sherpa. Dijmarescu, who at first seemed well-intentioned and charming, turned increasingly hostile to his own wife, as well as to the author and the other women on the team. By the end of the expedition, the three women could not travel unaccompanied in base camp due to the threat of violence. Those that tried to stand against the violence and theft found that the worst of the intimidation had followed them home to Connecticut.

Beatings, thefts, drugs, prostitution, coercion, threats, and abandonment on the highest slopes of Everest and other mountains have become the rule rather than the exception. Kodas describes many such experiences, and explores the larger issues these stories raise with thriller-like intensity.©2008 Michael Kodas; (P)2008 Hyperion

Critic reviews

"The perfect follow-up to Krakauer's riveting account of a perfect storm."—Miami Herald

"Kodas's absorbing description of the narrow moral compass governing human interaction at the top of the world is bound to shock both armchair adventurers and seasoned mountaineers."—Chicago Tribune

"(Kodas) discovered more deceit, thievery, and double-crossing among his climbers than you find in a Martin Scorsese gangster film. High Crimes is both an adventure story and an expos of a sport riddled with danger and corruption."—Washington Post Book World

"Kodas's descriptions of the struggles confronting even the best-prepared climbers leave the reader breathless."—Dallas Morning News

"[High Crimes] is hair-raising and lays bare the excitement and fear that face great explorers at the top of the world. . . . Well written, and as deftly plotted as the finest mystery novel, Kodas brings to life a disturbing picture of society at high altitude."—Austin Chronicle

"Kodas does an excellent job exposing the ways in which money and ego have corrupted the traditional cultures of both mountaineers and their Sherpa guides. . . . His narrative is as hard to turn away from as a slow-motion train wreck."—Publishers Weekly

Yet another interesting side to the Everest story.

I highly recommend this book if you want another point of view about the David Sharpe story, which always intrigued me how 40 people could just walk by this man on their way to the summit while he was dying without so much as a kind word, it is astonishing. I would like to think I wouldn't-do that to a dog. It also told the story of another man left for dead and other high crimes that go on at the mountain unpunished. It is a real eye opener, I especially recommend it to people who want to go climb that mountain. That mountain seems deadly in more ways then one. Suspenseful and excellent narration. I read it all the way through. Also gives you yet another side of the mysterious mountain climbing Sherpas.

Good book, good narration

Meet my expectations although a bit slow at the beginning.
Narratios was good and easy to understand.
Definitively worth it.

Interesting

First, if you have not read "Into Thin Air", you will be baffled by alot of what is in this book. That being said, I found this story very interesting. It is hard to say how much the abridgement cut into explanations of the mountain and climbing in general. If you found "Into Thin Air" interesting, then you will be fascinated by these stories of climbers struggling to climb Everest and failing, often fatally. The part of the book dealing with the problems in Connecticut after the climb is only small part of the book - the majority of the book is about climbing and Everest itself so don't let the "book jacket" explanation keep you away from this book.

Unprocessed Pique

I've rated this book 3 stars because I just find the story of Everest absolutely fascinating and 'High Crimes' adds to this narrative in a way that, while sad, is important and convincing. What detracts from the account is the author's use of himself and his fellows as the unsullied center of this less than noble universe. I dislike it when participants in an event hold themselves aloof from judgement. Krakauer's genuine grief and contemplation of his own imperfection is what makes "Into thin air" so compeling and that introspection is completely lacking in this tale.
Journalists may make just as much money from the mountain as guides do after all - what does that do to their own involvement in the mountain's dramas? It would have been a better book had that question been added to the others.

Why the bizarre musical interludes??

Report on crime on Everest interesting in light of 2019 overcrowding. But bizarre musical interruptions broke the flow of reporting . Truly poor editorial decision.