Allthatswritten: Within Reach: My Everest Story Book by Jack Galvin...

Allthatswritten: Within Reach: My Everest Story Book by Jack Galvin...: A book about a young man's quest to reach the peak of the highest mountain in the world.

Within Reach: My Everest Story Book by Jack Galvin and Mark Pfetzer

Some books make a huge impression on you and not just because of their content, but also because of the Author. In this case it’s a book by a 15 year old and its about his accomplishments at that young an age.

I’m talking about the book, “Within Reach – My Everest Story” by Mark Pfetzer and Jack Galvin. This is a story of a young man’s unforgettable journey.

'Within Reach' is a book about Mark and his passion and ambition to climb the highest mountain in the world – Mount Everest. In the words of Jack Galvin, “Most of us will never climb Mount Everest, but Mark has shown us that we can all live our own adventure if we have the strength of will.”

Mark’s interest in the mountains and mountain climbing starts at a young age of 12, when he was part of the Advanced camping trip team at the Alton Jones Wilderness Center at the University of Rhode Island. The first experience of climbing up and then rappelling and belying down a mountain gave him an adrenal rush. From there on, each step of his has been towards tougher goals, harder trails and exhausting workouts.

This book might seem like a regular book about Mount Everest, but what makes it so special is Mark’s determination, his focus, his passion, his unrelenting vision of getting to the top of Mount Everest and his punishing regime of strength training and workouts.

In 1994, Mark scaled Mount Pisco, Peru at age 14 and was the youngest to summit. From then on he has scaled Huascardin, Peru and ten Cotopaxi, Ecuador (the world’s third highest active volcano); all at 14 years of age.

In two years, at the age of 16, he climbed Mount Everest (26,000 ft.), from the Nepal side.

What differentiates Mark from other regular kids is his ‘dreams-to-reality ratio’ and his commitment. In the words of Jack Galvin, “Once he decides to take on a skill or an activity, he becomes committed. Then he learns, prepares, and immerses himself so intensely that success is not only predictable but inevitable. … Once made, he allows nothing to stand in his way. How else can you account for a thirteen-year-old, living in a small seaside town, with limited funds, who decides he wants to climb mountains and then finds his way to the upper reaches of Everest two years later?”

Through his experience on the mountain he teaches us about dedication, focus, teamwork, fear, death and triumph. He talks about how everyone is treated as an equal on the mountains and how important it is for everyone to carry their own load, he talks about people from different parts of the world, he talks about different parts of the world, he talks about the Monks who stay in the higher reaches of the Himalayas and truly seem content and in touch with the Maker up above.

This is a wonderful read for all those who aspire to climb Mountains and especially for all the youth who think they have it tough; when in reality they all have it very very easy.  

I admit, I am not athletic; but going through the book, made me want to start off. I’m not promising to run the marathon; but I atleast get off my chair!!!

This book has made me realize, it’s easy to sit back and complain about every small thing and make excuses for everything we do not want to do; and how if you make up your mind, nothing..nothing at all seems like an uphill talk!!!  

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!!

Mark Pfetzer