Book Review: "Halfway to Heaven" by Mark Obmascik

"Fat, forty-four, father of three sons, and facing a vasectomy, Mark Obmascik would never have guessed that his next move would be up a 14,000-foot mountain. But when his twelve-year-old son gets bitten by the climbing bug at summer camp, Obmascik can't resist the opportunity for some high-altitude father-son bonding by hiking a peak together. After their first joint climb, Obmascik, addled by the thin air, decides to keep his head in the clouds and try to scale all fifty-four of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains, known as the Fourteeners-and to do it in less than one year."   

- Book Flap excerpt

I really enjoyed this novel. Halfway to Heaven caused me to burst out with uncontrollable laughter on many occasions. Mark Obmasick does a great job of illustrating how fun and frightening going after dreams can be. Obmascik complements humor with a more serious side of climbing during a midlife adventure that weaves together family, friendship and climbing. It is an exciting look at the a sub-culture of mountaineering and the people who pursue the summits of peaks year after year almost obsessively. Mark gains friendship and wisdom along his travels to the top of the 54 Colorado fourteeners. Just think of who and what can inspire you!