Hidden Mountains

Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong

By: Michael Wejchert

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

The story of a climbing adventure gone wrong in a remote Alaskan mountain range, the impossible rescue attempt that followed, and the fraught cost of survival

In 2018, two couples set out on a climbing expedition to Alaska’s Hidden Mountains, one of the last wild ranges in North America. A rarity in modern climbing, the peaks were nearly unexplored and untouched, a place where few people had ever visited and granite spires still awaited first ascents. Inspired by generations of daring alpinists before them, the four climbers were now compelled to strike out into uncharted territory themselves.

This trip to the Hidden Mountains would be the culmination of years of climbing together, promising to test the foursome’s skill and dedication to the sport. But as the climbers would soon discover, no amount of preparation can account for the unknowns of true wilderness. As they neared the top of an unclimbed peak, rockfall grievously injured one of the climbers while he was out of sight, leaving him stranded and in critical condition.

Over the course of the next nine hours, the other three climbers worked to reach their companion. What followed was a pulse-pounding rescue attempt by Alaska’s elite Pararescuers in one of the most remote regions in the country—raising difficult questions about wilderness accessibility, technology’s role in outdoor adventure, and what it means to weigh risk against the siren song of the mountains.

With visceral prose, Michael Wejchert recounts the group’s rescue and traces the scars left in the wake of life-altering trauma. Weaving the history and evolution of rock and alpine climbing with outside tales of loss and survival in the mountains, Wejchert gives a full picture of the reward—and cost—of following your passions in the outdoors.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Michael Wejchert (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Compelling Story in Need of Trimming

There’s a compelling story in all of this, though the author’s incorporation of excessive technical information bogs it down. Some important ethical considerations are explored which are worthy of deeper societal consideration.

The personal reflection.

I read the book because I work with Alexa and wanted to be supportive of your endeavor. I am not a climber so I really appreciated the descriptions of the equipment and terminology. I was very moved by the personal reflection of the accident and how if affected everyone involved. By the end I felt as though I knew the characters and understood what drives climbers to do what they do. I also now feel compelled to watch Alexa climb something because you made her sound like a climbing ballerina. Thank you for sharing this story.

Was engaging at first, but then faded

Like similar stories, it builds up nicely until the accident, but then it becomes too long and less interesting. Stopped after ~70%.

Best book I’ve read in years

I simply could not stop listening to this audio book. Amazing story, superbly written. I bet this will become an all-time classic mountain novel.

Well written

So well written, I actually felt as though I was in the Hidden peaks witnessing the climb. Not all climbing books actually take you along on te journey. This one does !

So so.

Disappointed. Much of
Audio is not about this specific accident. Way too long. Probably a good magazine article. Not a great full length story. Wish I had returned.

Well written and engaging to the very end

Michael is an amazingly gifted writer and keeps one engaged from the first paragraph to the very end of the epilogue. While a very tragic story of loss, it dwells on heavy, little discussed issues facing those of us that love and play in the mountains.

Too much filler info

I would have preferred more detail of the rescue I bought the book for rather than skimming over numerous other climbing accidents.

A great book for the climber and non-climber

Easily one of the better climbing books I’ve read / listened to. Not your standard climbing book, but in a good way. Adventure, risk, highs and lows, but from a different perspective.

incredible story

The story is incredible, inspirational and heartbreaking all at the same time. I'll definitely be listening to this book again.