Flying Off Everest: A Journey From The Summit To The Sea Download Free (EPUB, PDF)

                
              
Flying Off Everest: A Journey From The Summit To The Sea Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Perched impossibly on a ridge overlooking a 10,000-foot drop into Tibet, Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa wait. Heel to toe, connected at the waist by a pair of carabineers that's connected to nothing else, they stare down the North Face of Mount Everest, a red and white nylon tandem paragliding wing fluttering behind them. They know that jumping off the top of the world marks only the beginning of a longer, more audacious journey. And they know that the two-mile ride down Everest will be the easiest part. If the jump doesn't kill them.In April 2011 the two unsponsored Nepalis set out on an unprecedented expedition to climb Everest, paraglide from its peak, and paddle nearly 400 miles to the ocean. Little problems wouldn't stop them. Like the fact that Babu had no technical climbing experience. And that Lakpa had never been kayaking—or swimming. But after summiting, surviving their flight off the world's tallest mountain, and being arrested, robbed, and nearly drowned--repeatedly—the two friends discovered their adventure had only just begun.
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Lyons Press; First Edition edition (May 6, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0762789662
ISBN-13: 978-0762789665
Product Dimensions:  0.8 x 6 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #945,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #50 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Sea Kayaking   #97 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Air Sports & Recreation   #105 in Books > Travel > Asia > Nepal > General
The story, true story, is excellent and shows how a strong desire to accomplish something can help make anything possible. These two individuals and their small supporting group did something most would never think about. I don't know if it was courage, stupidity, or a clever act but what ever it was doesn't matter, they succeeded and lived to tell about it. The writing is ok, not Pulitzer prize type of writing but it does not matter, the story was well understood and this is good enough. The author did do a good job with adding back stories to various points in the story and was able to do a good job integrating or weaving into the story where it was actually helpful rather than distracting. In fact, all the back stories were as good as the story itself.
Pretty much read this book start to finish in one day. It's like no other Everest book I've ever read. The fact that these two guys climbed Everest, flew off the top (OVER the top actually), then kayaked all the way to the sea through class V whitewater is remarkable given their complete lack of money, and their somewhat "relaxed" attitude (which I liked because it's so different from most adventure narratives). They have to mooch food and equipment, ask people to wire them a little money, etc. Yet the author doesn't dwell on the poverty of the people in Nepal or try to get sympathy, he just lets the facts speak for themselves. (Like the fact that they didn't bother to do a Google search or any other research before starting on this insane journey, they just decided to do it and headed out.)I liked the cultural aspect of the book as much as the adventure--the parts about their villages where they grew up, and local customs. I also liked the author's writing and his use of understated humor throughout. The story itself moves right along and keeps you flipping the pages. This is the best new adventure book I've read in a long time.
Dave Costello's first venture (travel magazine editor/ contributor) FLYING OFF EVEREST is a well crafted combination adventure-history-geography book focusing on two young Nepali men who decide to be the first of their nation to paraglide in tandem off Everest.Self taught, poor and unsponsered they manage the climb, and a cross country kayak trip to the ocean as well.This is a first class story of the spirit of adventure far removed from the world of tourists and wealthy glory seekers.It will appeal to the outdoorsperson as well as the armchair traveler in both its scope and its style.Think David Grann's LOST CITY OF Z.
On his first time at the plate, Dave Costello knocks it out of the park. The story of these two serendipity-driven, unlikely adventurers is both compelling and inspiring; the writing crisp and well-crafted and infused with sly humor; and supported by impeccably detailed research. As a full-time professional writer of nonfiction, I'm picky about what I read. I did not expect this book to yank me in head-first and keep me up reading late into two nights. But Flying Off Everest had me hooked from page one and never slowed down. Kudos to Dave Costello for a stellar first book.NIck Jans, author of A Wolf Called Romeo
Flying off Everest is a gripping, fascinating, and exhaustively researched story. It does an excellent job balancing character development, historical context, and trilling adventure storytelling. The lead characters, Babu and Lakpa, accomplished a near impossible feat climbing Everest, paragliding from the summit, and kayaking all the way to the Indian ocean without any real sponsorship or support. It's a staggering achievement and it is a gift that there is now a comprehensive, respectful, and exhilarating account of their story. Highly recommended.
Transported this reader to the other side of the world, to the top of the world and back again. An example of truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Introduced me to another culture, three different sports in extreme locations: Alpine climbing, Paragliding and White Water Kayaking and the spirit of adventure is still out there. Book Clubs, classrooms, families and everyone else will be talking about this book ... pass it on!
This is the most unique and interesting outdoor adventure book I've ever read. In April 2011 the two unsponsored Nepalis set out on an unprecedented expedition to climb Everest, paraglide from its peak, and paddle nearly 400 miles to the ocean. They took the trip with little planning, practically no gear or money, not even a map. Well done.
A very interesting account of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
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