The World Beneath Their Feet: Mountaineering, Madness, and the Deadly Race to Summit the Himalayas

This historical epic chronicles the race to summit the tallest mountains on the planet. Set in London, China, New York, Germany, Tibet, and India, The World Beneath Their Feet traverses the globe to tell the story of how mountaineering became a proxy in the great power conflicts of the early 20th century. Athletes from Great Britain, Nazi Germany, the United States, Brazil, and half a dozen other countries were all determined to be the first to stand on the roof of the world. Author Scott Ellsworth documents this contest, and shares incredible details about these early days of high altitude mountaineering. From cotton parkas and leather boots, to deadly avalanches, oxygen-starved air, and more, these climbers encountered any number of obstacles foreign to 21st century climbers, yet persevered nonetheless. An incredible story.