Book excerpt: Discover the powerful story of one woman's lifelong dedication to adventure and determination to succeed, as featured in the brand new BBC2 documentary The Last Mountain 'I shed a tear as I read this . . . I'll admit that I did not do so when I originally heard of her death. The difference? This book' INDEPENDENT ______ Alison Hargeaves was one of the finest climbers of her generation. But in 1995, she died during a violent storm on K2. On her death she was vilified by media outrage that a wife and mother would take such extreme risks. This is the story of a woman with an astonishing determination to be the best that she could. A woman driven to succeed just to secure a future for herself and her family. ______ 'A riveting and incredibly moving story' Irish News 'Few realized the extent of her inner turmoil - and her courage. A very moving biography of an extraordinary woman with an extraordinary talent and determination' Daily Telegraph 'A sensitive and intelligent book . . . Rose and Douglas recuse Hargreaves from the crude distortions of those who wanted to vilify or venerate her' Sunday Telegraph