To the Summit: A Woman's Journey Into the Mountains to Find Her Soul

Is it a sensational motivational goal or a death wish when a long-term food, alcohol and drug addict commits herself to climb seven of the world's greatest summits? Chisholm was taking 60 to 90 laxatives a day when she checked into an obesity clinic in 1986. Eighteen months later, with the help of a 12-Step program, fitness counseling and psychotherapy, she trained for and climbed Mt. Kenya. In 1992, she tackled Everest. This memoir, written with an assist from Bruce, a founder of the Writing Center of San Diego, is a stirring account of the mental and physical challenges Chisholm faced during her six-year conquest of the mountains. A well-kept journal of travel to faraway places, it depicts with affection base-camp culture and the society of high-altitude climbers. Descriptions of Chisholm's ascents are thrilling, and accounts of her inner struggles are candid. At 21,000 feet, under conditions of bone-chilling temperature and low oxygen, the need for Chisholm to accurately assess her mental and physical states became imperative. Throughout the book, the language of recovery and introspection serves as a refrain that often compromises the momentum of the adventure. Those who struggle over abstinence should value the techniques Chisholm used to overcome addiction, however, and will appreciate the self-help aspects of her story. But Chisholm's tale has a wider appeal, as does her message: don't hobble toward health-climb a mountain. Photos not seen by PW. 60,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour. (Mar.)