Book Review: The Faith of Adventure

"The Incredible Story of a 25-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest"

The Lyons Press
Copyright 2000
279 pgs.

An interesting black and white painting graces the title page of Bear Gryll's first non-fiction endeavor, "The Kid Who Climbed Everest." A mountaineer dangles over a seemingly bottomless crevasse, while his partner sits near the edge, coaching him across. In the bottom right corner, it says, "I lift my eyes up to the mountain - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven, Creator of the earth" (Psalm 121). It is a fitting intro, because it accurately foreshadows Gryll's novel from start to finish, as he consistently gives glory to whom glory is deserved - our Father in Heaven.

The book begins with Gryll's tragic parachuting accident over the skies of Africa. In 1996, Grylls, 23, was on a routine exercise for the British Army, but his chute failed to open, and his back all but shattered when he slammed into the desert floor. It was by the grace of God he survived. For months upon months, Grylls endured painful physical therapies and lived in hospitals. No one thought he would ever walk again. But Bear had a dream, kindled at a young age when his father gave him a photo of Mt. Everest. Bear saw his hopes and dreams fading, but through prayer and determination, he relearned to walk, and 18 months after his accident, he set foot on the summit of Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

From here, Grylls recounts his tale in moderately good fashion. He is not a writer, rather, a personality, and this is what saves him. But this good ole' yarn is hard to put down, as he transcribes the excitement and chaos of base camp - full of Sherpa guides, cooks, and yaks - the harrowing climb up the Lhotse Face Icewall - always shifting, sometimes swallowing climbers without warning - and his near-death experiences, from falling 90 feet into a crevasse, to having serious altitude sickness and being at the mercy of his friends and Sherpa guides.

Throughout his book, Grylls quotes scripture and boldly acknowledges his dependence on God. He consistently prays for safety and even leads his team members in worship, citing lyrics from the song, Amazing Grace:

"Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, 'tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will bring me home."

During particularly difficult times, he would turn to a seashell his fiance had given him; in it, she had written, "Be sure of this, that I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20), and this was his great comfort and source of strength.

Also in Gryll's book, readers will recognize sincere reverence for the natural world. His reflections on the mountains mirror his awe and love for the Creator. Grylls writes:

"[...] The draw of the mountains is their simplicity. That fierce force of nature, where the wind howls around you and you struggle for breath and life itself; it is strangely irresistible to man. The simple sound of ice beneath your crampons, crunching as the teeth bite into the frozen surface. The raw beauty of being so high and so remote, [seeing] the greatest mountain range in the world sprawled beneath you. All of it inexplicably draws us to them" (271).

While Grylls' adventure is the stuff of epic storytelling, the biggest draw to his book is the faith and perseverance he portrays up and down the summit. Plenty of people have climbed Everest. But not as many give the credit to God. Upon his return, he was repeatedly asked if he had found God on the mountain. His response...no. "You don't have to climb a big mountain to find a faith. [It] is the wonderful thing about God; He is always there, wherever you are" (272).

To anyone who is interested in reading about a man's struggles and his Father's helping hand, "The Kid Who Climbed Everest," would make a fine addition to the summer reading list.