So, I’m an amateur… but this was confusing to me. I setup the board as you instructed and tried to play it out. You’re right. The way you described it is impossible…
So! I grabbed a pdf of the book you’re talking about and you missed the first two steps of the solution.
Solution is as follows: (White trading rooks is a winning position with the pawn so far up field)
- Rxh7+ Kxh7
- Kd5 Kh6
Next is where your part of the solution comes in.. where it discusses that white should move the king farther up the board instead of the tempting Ke6 position. (Because Ke6 would allow the Black king to take the pawn and open the door for the black pawn to become a queen or a draw)