Читать книгу Edge of the Map. The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff онлайн

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“Suit yourself,” Scott said, “but take it easy up there. You don’t want your first to be your last.”

The Boskoffs thanked Scott for the coffee and returned to their tent to prepare for the next day. Their decision concerned Scott, but their resolve—especially hers—reminded Scott of himself.

WATCHING THEM LEAVE BASE CAMP the next day, Scott turned to another climber on his team.

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “The mountain doesn’t feel ready. The slopes are loaded—primed for avalanches. I’m not convinced they should be out there.”

“She’s strong, Scott,” observed the other climber. “Look at Alison. She just summited Everest less than three freaking months ago. No Sherpas. No oxygen.”

But Scott wasn’t worried about Chris. “It’s him,” he said grimly about Keith. “He loves that woman. I can tell. He’ll do anything for her, including going beyond where he’s capable of going.” Scott walked to the expedition’s high-powered telescope. Wrestling with it, he fixed the tripod securely between rocks and trained it on the steep cliff leading out of camp.