In 1974, 160 climbers from twelve nations converged on the Pamirs Mountain Rnage on the Soviet-Chinese border. No Americans and few Europeans had ever climbed those mountains. The sheer number and variety of nationalities delighted the Soviet hosts, who proudly described the expedition as the greatest assemblage of climbers in history. But the great hopes and ambitions quickly changed to bitter disappointment, despair and grief. By the end of the climb, the entire Soviet women's team of eight, as well as seven other climbers, had died. Craig, the deputy leader of the American team, tells movingly, but with great precision, what happens when climbing becomes secondary to survival...