Ultimate High Book Review: Odyssey of Goran Kropp

Book Review: Ultimate High- My Everest Odyssey by Goran Kropp (& David Lagercrantz)

In Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey, Swedish adventurer Goran Kropp recounts his legendary 1996 expedition: cycling solo from Sweden to Nepal, summiting Mount Everest without bottled oxygen or Sherpa support, and then cycling home—all entirely self-powered. Along the way, he navigates physical hardship, mental strain, and life-threatening alpine conditions, while also bearing witness to the tragic 1996 Everest disaster. The book is an honest, compelling account of one man’s pursuit of adventure on his own terms

📖 Overview & Synopsis

Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey is a gripping autobiographical account by Swedish adventurer Göran Kropp, who in 1996 made a legendary and nearly unimaginable journey: he cycled 7,000 miles from Sweden to Nepal, climbed Mount Everest solo and without supplemental oxygen, and then cycled back home—all in one expedition. The book chronicles not only this remarkable feat but also the personal motivations, physical struggles, and moments of reflection that defined the journey.

The Cycle

The narrative is set against the backdrop of the 1996 Everest disaster where he witnessed the tragedy first-hand but avoided becoming part of it due to his independent approach and strict decision-making. Goran Kropp was already an accomplished alpine climber who loved adventure. The start of the book details the preparation and fund raising grind to be able to accomplish the goal. In October 1995, Kropp departed Sweden with a bicycle, a trailer and over 90kg of equipment and food. It took him 4 months to cycle through Europe facing the steep alps with rough nights sleep and terrible road surfaces. Kropp even had odd encounters such as offered the woman’s daughter for free in a Hungarian brothel. Not to mention the numerous mechanical break downs. The most surprising part was after Turkey in Iran and Pakistan where he was pelted with rocks and chased.

Everest

India seemed like a haven in comparison. Once he arrived in Kathmandu, he still had the task of trekking through Nepal to the start of Everest Base Camp carrying all this equipment. Exhausted but with support from Renata Chlumska (partner), he made it to Base Camp to join the other expeditions waiting for favourable weather to climb. The 1996 Everest disaster is well documented, notably Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Anatoli Boukreev’s The Climb. Whereas Kropp adds the element of what Base Camp was like to an outsider compared the the expensive and luxurious expeditions. His own first attempt doesn’t credit how hard he pushed physically. During his recovery, he observed the rescues attempts and survivors arrive at Base Camp. On a third late attempt in the season, he reached the summit and was almost the last to leave Base Camp along with the IMAX film crew.

Aftermath

Kropp required weeks of recuperating in Kathmandu before he was fit enough to ride the long journey home to Sweden. The return journey is not as exciting as the arrival to Nepal and paces by quickly. The book ends with Kropp explaining his future ambitions to sail from Sweden to Antarctica and skiing tot he South Pole all solo. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity after moving to the US and having a tragic climbing accident.

✅ Strengths

Authenticity & Integrity: Kropp’s voice is honest, self-deprecating, and passionate. He doesn’t shy away from discussing doubts, failures, or the mental toll of solo travel and extreme mountaineering. Goran Kropp also doesn’t shy away from calling out the disparity between the Sherpas and Expedition Guides. As well as how mountaineering has changed with competitiveness to reach the summit, disregarding rubbish on the slopes and the ethics behind leaving dead climbers behind.

Unique Expedition: The sheer originality of cycling to Everest, climbing it without Sherpa support or bottled oxygen, and cycling back gives the book a strong narrative hook. Few adventure stories match this level of raw endurance. By cycling through Europe, the middle east and into Asia, the difference in cultures is clear.

Insight into the 1996 Disaster: His first-hand experience of the infamous Everest season adds valuable insight to an already much-covered event, offering a contrast to accounts like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. See a more detailed comparison below.

Human Element: Beyond physical feats, Kropp shares glimpses of his personal life and relationship with his partner Renata Chlumska, which adds depth to the story.

❌ Weaknesses

Occasional Pacing Issues: Certain sections, particularly his preparation and logistics, may feel overly detailed or slow for readers eager to get to the Everest climb itself. And the return journey feels rushed whereas there is a long chapter detailing a future expedition that was never to be.

Modest Prose: The writing style, though honest, can sometimes feel blunt or lacking in literary flair, possibly due to translation (from Swedish) or the nature of Kropp’s straightforward personality.

Less Technical Depth: While it offers a solid view of his mindset, readers looking for highly technical mountaineering insights might find it a bit light in that regard.

🎯 Key Lessons

1. Self-Reliance is Powerful – Kropp’s decision to carry out the expedition unsupported shows the strength of planning, discipline, and trust in oneself. He learnt to be completely independent when seeing other Expeditions with Sherpas and Guides. He even risked making his own route through the Khumbu Icefield to not share the pre-laid ladders.

2. Know When to Turn Back – A crucial moment in the book is when Kropp abandons a summit push due to unsafe conditions—demonstrating that sound judgment is more heroic than blind ambition. This is even more relevant given the events that occurred in 1996 where poor decision making about timings cost multiple deaths.

3. Adventure Doesn’t Require Spectacle– Kropp reminds us that the most meaningful challenges are often the most personal, and success isn’t always about breaking records but about staying true to your values.

🏔 Everest 1996 Disaster

One of the most interesting parts is the timeline that overlaps the Everest 1996 Disaster which saw the deaths of 8 climbers in one of the worst mountaineering disasters. The events have become famous due to the various publications from the protagonists with the most popular being Jon Krakauer’s’ Into Thin Air. Boukreev’s version in his book (The Climb) threw criticism onto Krakauer’s article and book. This gave confusing accounts so it is refreshing to hear Goran Kropp explain from a outside perspective. Someone who faced the same challenges but from Base Camp as the crisis occurred above. It explains Goran’s relationship to different groups such as the South African, American and New Zealand Expeditions. He highlighted the risks and politics that were present and criticised the celebrity, Sandy Pitman, and Leaders. There is no shame in naming the people who made the key decisions on Everest.

Whilst I loved reading Into Thin Air after my Annapurna Trek, I do feel like Ultimate High offers a wider perspective and is less controversial compared to conflicting accounts by Krakauer and Boukreev. Naturally, a solo mountaineer who climbs without supplemental Oxygen and carries their own gear, has a different point of view to a climber and journalist on an organised Expedition. Kropp highlights the commercialisation much stronger than Krakauer does. Whereas the styles differ too, with a more Introspective style for Kropp compared to Krakauer’s dramatized and emotional pose. I do think these books can compliment each other and paint a broad view of the events that occurred on Everest during those difficult days. Ultimate High offers a calm counterpoint to the chaos depicted in Into Thin Air.

⭐ Final Verdict

Ultimate High is an inspiring, grounded, and unforgettable read that captures the essence of adventure without glamourizing risk. Goran Kropp writes a story that stands as a testament to the human spirit, smart decision-making, and doing things for the right reasons. His moral compass and code shows the true challenge to push the mental and physical limits to achieve what most consider the impossible.

📊Ratings

BM Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Goodreads Rating: 4.01 / 5 (561 Ratings)

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What is your favourite adventure book? I’m always looking to build my book collection and find new inspiration.