Krakauer describes the booming commercialism now associated with Everest. Nepal and Tibet, both poor countries, rely upon guide services up the mountain for nati onal income. Now, it can cost upwards of $70,000 to be guided up the mountain. When Outside Magazine hired Krakauer to do the story, he was not to actually attempt the summit. However, he decided that remaining at …
Summary. This chapter begins Krakauer's chronological narrative. He flies to Kathmandu, staring down at the Himalayan peaks. Krakauer sees the neighboring peaks first, and then Everest comes into view. If he summits, he will be nearly as high as he is right then, on the airplane. On the ground, Krakauer meets Andy Harris, one of the guides in ...
Into Thin Air Many of the creature comforts supplied at Base Camp are intended to allay some of the climbers concerns. The time at Base Camp is instrumental to acclimatization—both in terms of altitude and in terms of the rigors associated with climbing the mountain.
Krakauer describes a number of events that befell young Sherpas whose guides did not impress upon them the importance of adhering to safety rules. The most gruesome of these stories had actually been witnessed by one of Krakauer's teammates, Frank Fischbeck. A young Sherpa who neglected to clip his rope fell from a distance of nearly 2,000 feet.
Krakauer reflects on his fellow clients, slightly put off by their collective lack of experience. He strikes up a friendship with Doug Hansen, a postal worker who atte mpted to summit Everest in 1995 with Rob Hall, but turned back just before he reached the top.
Harris is from New Zealand and they compare their climbing experiences. This is to be Harris's first attempt at Everest as well. They pick up another member o f the expedition, Lou Kasischke and go to their hotel, a place where many famous climbers, including their leading guide Rob Hall, have stayed over the years.
Postal publisher who, along with Jon Krakauer, joins Rob Hall ’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996. Hansen is one of the only people on the expedition with whom Krakauer feels any rapport; he admires Hansen’s honesty and relates to his lower-middle-class background. Unlike most of the climbers on the expedition, Hansen is only able to go to Everest because of the help of other people; a local school puts on fundraiser to supply the funds for Hansen’s Everest climb. In 1995, Hansen went on an expedition with Rob Hall, but had to turn back early, in 1996, he’s determined not to let the same thing happen. Hansen’s enthusiasm eventually backfires when he and Hall climb to the summit too late, and get caught in a deadly snowstorm. Ultimately, he freezes to death.
Doug Hansen Character Analysis. Doug Hansen. Postal publisher who, along with Jon Krakauer, joins Rob Hall ’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996. Hansen is one of the only people on the expedition with whom Krakauer feels any rapport; he admires Hansen’s honesty and relates to his lower-middle-class background.
Michigan-based lawyer who, along with Jon Krakauer, joins Rob Hall ’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996. Kasischke survives the expedition without any serious injuries, largely because he makes the wise decision to turn around on the afternoon of May 10, rather than continuing to climb to the summit.
Author and narrator of Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer is an experienced mountaineer and journalist who gets an opportunity to climb Mount Everest, thanks to the sponsorship of Outside magazine. Krakauer respects his… read analysis of Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer. Author and narrator of Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer is an experienced mountaineer and journalist who gets an opportunity to climb Mount Everest, thanks to the sponsorship of Outside magazine. Krakauer respects his… read analysis of Jon Krakauer.
Rob Hall is a New Zealand-based mountaineer who acts as the leader of the expedition that takes Jon Krakauer to the summit of Mount Everest. He made a name for himself by becoming, along… read analysis of Rob Hall
Andy Harris. A young, very likeable guide who works for Rob Hall, and quickly becomes a good friend to Jon Krakauer. Harris has never been to Mount Everest before he embarks on the expedition with… read analysis of Andy Harris.
A talented, charismatic mountaineer who dies in the May 10 Everest disaster. Fischer has a reputation for being the “bad boy” of the mountain climbing world, especially when compared with Rob Hall. Nevertheless, Fischer… read analysis of Scott Fischer
Beck Weathers. Pathologist who, along with Jon Krakauer, joins Rob Hall ’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996. Weathers is one of the most inexperienced people on the expedition, and on the afternoon of May 10… read analysis of Beck Weathers.
Krakauer ends the text by describing what has happened since, and the interactions he has had with his teammates. Lou Kasischke writes him a letter in which he says "Everest was the worst experience in my life" but that he has moved past it. Lou and Beck Weathers keep in touch.
Krakauer describes the anger cause by his article for Outside Magazine. He acknowledges having hurt some of the friends and families of the people who died on the mountain, and he apologizes. He explains that he believed the story of what happened on the mountain needed to be told, and his intent was to be as thorough and accurate as possible.