Author Description

In early February 2003 Krista Anthony, a Massachusetts sophomore in college, called her Dad to see if they could go somewhere for her spring break. Having climbed nothing other than a flight of stairs or slept in anything other than a warm bed, full of complacency and naiveté, they decided to journey to Peru and attempt to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The decision touched off a climbing saga with her Dad and much older brother Richard that spanned four years. In their subsequent excursions to Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Russia) and their fanciful excursion to Vinson Massif (Antarctica), the climbs-became at times life-and-death struggles, resulting in one apparent world-record summit. This frank narrative depicts what it's really like attempting some of the world's classic climbs. Photos, historical perspective, trekking and climbing tips.