Into this chaos comes famed American mountain climber Jim Bridgman in search of his final triumph -- the treacherous, unclimbed, and perhaps unscalable Nevado Viracocha. Fronted by a river of ice, it is the highest peak in the Andes. But it is also on indigene sacred ground, and as he prepares for the greatest challenge of his climbing life, Bridgman discovers how precarious survival is for the natives. He becomes a leader in their struggle -- and a wanted man with a price on his head. What starts out as a daring quest to tame the elements becomes a fight for life itself. The author, drawing upon several harrowing escapes from his own climbing career, creates a riveting sense of realism -- in a compelling story of survival that combines the best of old-fashioned adventure and timely political intrigue.