Maria Coffey lost her partner on Mount Everest in 1982. In her book Where the Mountain Casts its Shadow she writes about her grief and tells the stories widow(er)s orphans and lives shattered by mountain climbing accidents.
I read Where the Mountain Casts its Shadow when I was training for my first attempt to kayak around Ireland. I wanted to understand what one mistake or lapse of judgement out there could cost the people who love me. I wanted to be brutally honest about whether the risks were worth taking.
I approached the book as a cautionary tale and came away with a life-affirming appreciation for the outdoors and the benefits of calculated risks.
Maria is also the author of more than a dozen travel books and memoirs, including my personal favorite A Cat in A Kayak. Her most recent book Instead, explores the decision not to have children. She and her partner Dag run Hidden Places, an adventure tours company. You can find her on Instagram @bookscoffey
NOTES FROM A GHOST is a podcast about stories and the people who tell them.
My name is Charles Daly, and I’m a ghostwriter. If you have an epic story, I’d love to hear it. You can find me at Dalyprose.com or on Linkedin.
