I chose to review Holding Fast: The Untold Story of the Mount Hood Tragedy by Karen James, wife of mountaineer Kelly James, because I am interested in how adverturers cope with extreme adversity in nature; how one, who is aware of dying, comes to terms with their life; and how those left behind move beyond their grief.
Holding Fast is short on the details of how Kelly died as he was alone during his ordeal in the ice cave. We learn from Karen James of his last cell phone call to her and their children and a “message” he sends the rescuers that eases the grief for his family as they quickly discover that the body they found near the summit was Kelly’s. HIs final gesture enforces his wife’s homage to her husband as a unusually thoughtful and prepared man.
This is not a story of recklessness or naivete nor does Kelly seem to be undone by his ego. He and his two climbing buddies were well prepared, meticulously plotting their route for weeks on end and aware of all the contingencies the trip to the summit of Mount Hood could possibly present.
Rather, Holding Fast focuses on those Kelly left behind, primarily his wife, Karen. Her faith in a Christian God, her family and friends pull her through the fear and loneliness of life without her husband. The sincerity of Karen’s written words ring true with her simple telling of events and her thanks and praise to all of the rescue teams that banded together to try to locate the three missing men was gracious and well deserved.
Karen James shares wih us a story in which we understand her loneliness and fear as she copes with this most personal of family tragedies. Karen, in her darkest moments, asks God; “Why Kelly?.” In the end she finds comfort in a God that has a plan for each of us and that destiny has purpose in His eyes.
