I liked the referral to the book of Heinrich Harrer "Die Weisse Spinne", as it was the first mountaineering book I ever read, and that was about 20 years ago when I had just started school. I remember, as Joe does, that I was highly impressed by the achievements and the tragedies which occured in the impossible, death bringing north face of the Eiger.
I also was impressed, that Joe had the possibility to "touch history" - to meet one of the first ascenders of the "white spider", who unluckily died some time ago.
what I considered an interesting fact, is that both, Joe and his partner, watched the German Live ascent of the Eiger, and obviously found it encouraging. I have seen this ascent live on German TV and was quite disappointed. The ascending team had helicopter backup, they got equipment from the helicopter, and, what I thought most disappointing, not all of them where of equal climbing experience, such that I got the feeling the woman in this party was just participating for reasons of sexual equality, and the local mountain guide with an appropriate partner would have climbed the wall within a much shorter period of time. ( and I may say that - I'm female
As his other books, I found it quite encouraging and motivating, and for sure - I'm looking forward to have a great summer in Germany with hopefully several trips to the local rock pit and to the alps!