I absolutely despised the book and didn't see the movie at all. I felt like the book moved pretty slowly and then took abrupt detours so that the author could tell everyone about his personal mountain climbing adventures. What the hell did they have to do with this story? It was like "oh shoot, I've run out of things to say about this rather annoying main character but I promised my publisher XXX number of words.... Oh wait - I know, I'll wander off topic and tell everyone about my mountain climbing experience!"
The main character in this book is a lost boy. He is loved by his family, intelligent, healthy, good looking, and good natured. He squanders every opportunity he is given and cannot plan for ANYTHING. No plan, no clue. By the end of the book, you want to ***** slap him for being such a ding bat.
That said, I did take a hike off Stampede road when I was working in Denali a few weeks ago. Curiosity.
angela