By Lindsey Schibelhut, Staff Reporter.
On May 10, 1996, one of the worst tragedies would befall eight climbers seeking to summit on the top of Mount Everest. “After the Wind” by Lou Kasischke, gives readers an autobiographical account of what led up to the tragedy, which details what kept his spirits going and led him on his journey back home.
Kasischke, a 1962 Delta College graduate and avid outdoor enthusiast, has climbed many mountains before deciding to climb Mount Everest in 1996. After deciding to climb Everest, he joined the Adventure Consultants expedition team headed by New Zealand mountaineer guide, Rob Hall, who was looking to safely summit the infamous peak. The climber endured weeks of vigorous training to acclimate bodies to the unforgiving climate.
Kasischke crafts a beautiful yet haunting narrative in “After the Wind.” He carefully goes through each day with the reader, painting a picture of the morale among team members, the acclimation to the unrelenting climate and dealing with illness while on the trip. He also captures the unbreakable bond he has with his wife Sandy through the correspondences they sent via fax. Readers will also experience the tragedy as it unfolds and the decisions that Kasischke believes ultimately led to the deadly consequences.
The book is 328 pages long with 42 chapters. Throughout the chapters, there are hand drawn illustrations of Everest and the path the climbers ventured.
After finishing “After the Wind,” I was pleasantly surprised by how well Kasischke wrote this book and found myself unable to put it down once I began reading it. I am looking forward to reading it again. This book may be especially poignant for those who enjoy the non-fiction genre, stories of survival and the power of love.
