In the instance of Lydia Bradey’s mountaineering tale, Going Up Is Easy, judging a book by its cover, or rather its title, would be pointless. That’s because the exploits contained within are anything but ‘easy’.
The first woman to have climbed Everest without oxygen – and still the only New Zealander to have done so – Lydia is one of this country’s most experienced high-altitude mountaineers, and her personal journey is fascinating.
Despite being a non-sporting only child, raised by a single mother, she grew up with an enduring ambition to climb 8000-metre peaks.
In the instance of Lydia Bradey’s mountaineering tale, Going Up Is Easy, judging a book by its cover, or rather its title, would be pointless. That’s because the exploits contained within are anything but ‘easy’.
The first woman to have climbed Everest without oxygen – and still the only New Zealander to have done so – Lydia is one of this country’s most experienced high-altitude mountaineers, and her personal journey is fascinating.
Despite being a non-sporting only child, raised by a single mother, she grew up with an enduring ambition to climb 8000-metre peaks.
In her book, Lydia tells of her historic Everest ascent, where she climbed oxygen-free to the summit at the age of 27. She also recounts her many hair-raising expeditions through Alaska, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, India, China, Europe and New Zealand.
The 1988 Everest ascent was marred by controversy – which Lydia addresses. Left on the mountain by her team members, she made the final ascent alone with no one to share her remarkable feat.
Although her claim to the top was later formally acknowledged, she had to face detractors who did not believe her.
Going Up is Easy celebrates a life lived on the edge, depicting a woman propelled by curiosity and passion to become one of the greatest female high-altitude adventurers of all time.
Yet Lydia is candid about the highs and the lows of these emotionally taxing expeditions: the tough times, the grief of losing fellow climbing companions, joy in the beauty of nature, gruelling and changeable mountain conditions – and making a summit.
Co-written with acclaimed novelist Laurence Fearnley and stunningly illustrated, Going Up is Easy is an inspiring and powerful story.
• Going Up is Easy by Lydia Bradey. Published by Penguin. RRP $38.
Business to Business has a copy of this book to give away.
Simply complete the form below to enter.
One entry per person/email address; entries close September 20, 2015.
Winner notified by phone or email.
Show more