The Climb up to Hell

By: Jack Olsen

Narrated by: Gary D. MacFadden

A harrowing true story of survival on the Eiger's Deadly North Face

In The Climb up to Hell, acclaimed journalist and Edgar award winning author Jack Olsen delivers a gripping account of one of the most dangerous mountain climbs in history, a perilous 1957 assault on the Eiger’s infamous North Face in the Swiss Alps, where courage, tragedy, and endurance collide.

This edge-of-your-seat nonfiction thriller follows a team of climbers as they battle freezing temperatures, sheer rock faces, and dwindling hope. What begins as a bold ascent quickly turns into a desperate struggle for survival on one of the world’s most treacherous mountains. With only thin ropes and raw determination, the climbers face the terrifying reality of a climb gone wrong, where every decision can mean life or death.

For fans of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void, this is more than just a true survival story. It’s a deep dive into the human will, the call of adventure, and the thin line between triumph and tragedy on the Eiger’s icy slopes.

Whether you're a fan of mountaineering nonfiction, tales of extreme adventure, or real-life rescue missions, The Climb up to Hell will leave you breathless.

©1962 Jack Olsen Literary Works, LLC (P)2025 Jack Olsen Literary Works, LLC

Drops you right onto the icy North of the Eiger

This audiobook drops you right onto the icy North Face of the Eiger and makes you feel every decision, fear and burst of courage. Jack Olsen’s reporting and Gary D. MacFadden’s narration combine into a gripping true survival story you can’t stop listening to. Perfect for fans of Into Thin Air or anyone fascinated by extreme adventure and the edge of human endurance.