In his book "Gratwanderung", Uli Auffermann addresses a mostly unknown side of famous mountaineers: Auffermann's book is about uncertainty, the warning gut feeling and the famous sixth sense, which can be vital for survival. This book brings together 38 personal experiences of more or less well-known but outstandingly experienced alpinists and mountain guides, all of whom report on their perception of an inexplicable, uneasy feeling that occurred despite seemingly objectively favorable conditions. Many stories ultimately confirm that the gut feeling was not deceptive. However, some of the stories also end without a clear conclusion as to whether the sixth sense protected against a dangerous situation or not. Editor Uli Auffermann structures the individual stories in his book according to the same pattern: Each chapter starts with a brief outline of the mountain experience of the respective alpinist or mountain guide and their relationship to the mountain. This is followed by a usually quite vivid description of the individual experience on the mountain, which usually led to the retreat. The author himself repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the sixth sense. He interprets this sense as the result of many unconscious experiences on the mountain during critical situations, which are instinctively recalled in similar situations and then make themselves felt as a bad gut feeling. Finally, the chapter concludes with a short portrait of the respective alpinist or mountain guide. In the middle section, Auffermann uses spectacular images to illustrate the skills and experience of the personalities featured in the book. The book undoubtedly contains numerous fascinating stories of experienced mountaineers, which make the reader realize that it is important to listen to a warning feeling and not to trust the deceptive, objectively "safe" conditions. Auffermann thus touches on an undoubtedly important topic for all mountaineers. Of course, it remains questionable whether a gut feeling or a sixth sense can be empirically recorded. An important motive of the editor seems to be to substantiate the intrinsically intangible phenomenon of a bad gut feeling by collecting various "stories". It is also a plea for people to trust their own feelings more. Many stories are impressive, but some are less convincing, as they do not document any "help" from the sixth sense. For example, there are reports of not boarding an airplane that had already been booked or not getting on a climbing route. However, there was no subsequent dangerous situation. These stories are only instructive and credible because experienced mountaineers have dared to retreat. However, this is precisely the weakness of this book: Auffermann addresses the undoubtedly (survival) important instinct in mountaineering, which experienced alpinists in particular have at their disposal; and he tries to prove this instinct in his book and make it tangible. But precisely this proof, this making tangible, is probably simply not possible. Anyone who is convinced of the existence of this sixth sense will probably be strengthened in their conviction after reading this book. Those who only believe what can be proven scientifically are unlikely to be convinced by Auffermann's book either.
Information about the book
Gratwanderung - Vom Überlebensinstinkt bekannter Alpinisten
Uli Auffermann (ed.)
224 pages, approx. 70 illustrations
Format 14.3 x 22.3 cm, hardcover with dust jacket
2013 Bruckmann Verlag, Munich
Price: €19.95
