Author(s): Dominic Faulkner

Sport/Transport

"The Longest Climb" is the utterly compelling account of Dominic Faulkner's expedition from the Dead Sea to the peak of Everest. Dominic and his team, EverestMax, were the first ever to make this journey - a dangerous one, both politically and personally. Following much of the ancient Silk Road they cycled five thousand miles across Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India on the way to Tibet and the bottom of the world's highest mountain, where they prepared for the climb of their lives.From escaping the Syrian army and confronting Iranian mullahs, to deciding whether or not to share the little oxygen they have and risk their own lives in order to save another climber, "The Longest Climb" is a high-octane combination of the huge personal risk, fascinating cultural insight, and momentary farce that make up a major expedition. "The Longest Climb" is not solely the story of an expedition. It is also the moving account of Dominic's struggle to finally accept the heartbreaking loss of his father when Dominic was just six. As he fights illness, broken equipment, lack of money and the grueling demands of climbing Everest, Dominic also reflects upon what has driven him up this mountain. The answers are as affecting as they are extraordinary. Author Biography: Dominic Faulkner was born in the UK but spent his early years in Nigeria and India. He spent some years with the Army and his first Everest climbing experience was as a member of the Millenium SAS team - but on that expedition he was injured and failed to summit. In 2005 he led the EverestMax team from the shores of the Dead Sea - the lowest point on Earth - to the summit of Everest. They were the first team to make this journey and in so doing attracted worldwide publicity. First published 2009.