Everest, Guns and Money

In the autumn of 1973, Chris Dewhirst was living and working in Yosemite National Park, and part of a counterculture group of rock climbers tackling some of the most difficult climbs on the planet. One night, while four friends were perched high on the side of El Capitan, a plane crashed into a back-country lake, killing the pilots and scattering contraband. This true event leads to the sinister account of drug dealings with Panama's notorious hitman, Manuel Noriega, and a CIA covert scheme of gunrunning to Santiago, supporting General Pinochet's junta. From the story of climbing the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in 1973, to crash landing a hot air balloon in Tibet, after over-flying Mt Everest in 1991, Dewhirst has written the most thought-provoking, compelling and exciting book you'll read for a very long time. Everest, Guns & Money is a page-turning political thriller, but also a deep-dive memoir, written by a man who has lived life on the edge. In the 1960s and early 70s, Dewhirst was at the forefront of Australian rock climbing, making numerous first ascents throughout the country. In 1980 he established commercial rafting on Tasmania's Franklin River, then went on to pioneer commercial hot air ballooning in Australia, and in a world first, over Melbourne, a metropolis of 5 million people. After successfully over-flying Mt Everest, Dewhirst was awarded the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia Oswald Watt Gold Medal, the FAI's Diplome Montgolfiere and the UK Royal Aero Club's Salomons Trophy. The National Geographic film of the Everest expedition FIRE IN THE WIND is an all time classic. Dewhirst has also been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to adventure tourism. 73 photographs

Ideal for readers interested in reading.