# data[].attributes.body
"...Hutchison couldn't discern who it was until he knelt in the gale and chipped a three-inch-thick carapace of ice from her face" (247)

car·a·pace

/ˈkerəˌpās/

noun

the hard upper shell of a turtle, crustacean, or arachnid.

Ex: The turtle's carapace protected its back from predators

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"Upon first finding Beck in the tent, I was so shocked by his hideous condition-and by the unforgivable way that we'd let him down again-I nearly broke into tears. 'Everything's going to be O.K.,' I lied, choking back my sobs as I pulled the sleeping bags over him, zipped the tent doors shut, and tried to re-erect the damaged shelter. 'Don't worry, pal. Everything's under control now" (256).

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"Upon first finding Beck in the tent, I was so shocked by his hideous condition-and by the unforgivable way that we'd let him down again-I nearly broke into tears. 'Everything's going to be O.K.,' I lied, choking back my sobs as I pulled the sleeping bags over him, zipped the tent doors shut, and tried to re-erect the damaged shelter. 'Don't worry, pal. Everything's under control now" (256).

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Because Krakauer and the rest of their expedition had got into danger by ignoring regulation and missing the turn around time, Rob Hall, Andy Harris, Doug Hansen, and all the others were put into danger by a Himalayan squall. Now, their approach to saving other people was extremely conservative, leaving some people even as they were still breathing. Beck's miraculous recovery and return to camp serves as a grim reminder that the opportunity to try to save the others was there, even if they realistically never made it down. Krakauer is ashamed and haunted by his role in this, believing he endangered more people than he helped. Even then, after being proven wrong twice, he still believes Beck would perish. Hypoxia, fatigue, and tragedy are an unpleasant mix.

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I am interested in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air because I am an avid backpacker. I have not attempted to do anything as difficult as Everest, but I have a few 50 milers under my belt, as well as having summited the highest peak in each New England State, as well as Mt. Baldy in New Mexico. Climbing adventures interest me greatly, and I am excited to read Krakauer's account.

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“During the night, our fetid exhalations has condensed on the tent fabric to form a fragile, interior sheath of hoarfrost...” (124).

hoar·frost

/ˈhôrˌfrôst/

noun
A grayish-white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapor formed in clear still weather on vegetation, fences, etc.

Ex. The wintery weather formed the crystalline hoarfrost on the pine trees.

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"Achieving the summit of a mountain was tangible, immutable, concrete. The incumbent hazards lent the activity a seriousness of purpose that was sorely missing from the rest of my life" (20).

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"Achieving the summit of a mountain was tangible, immutable, concrete. The incumbent hazards lent the activity a seriousness of purpose that was sorely missing from the rest of my life" (20).

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Krakauer values personal adventure very highly, and devoted much of his young life on climbing endeavors. The purpose and clarity of goal mixed with the spontaneousness of nature provide the motivation and excitement needed to fulfill Krakauer, which is something he could not find in other lifestyles. It seems this text will explore values of endurance, reflection, and self reliance on a journey that is extremely perilous, but spiritually rewarding.

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"The rimpoche, it turned out, had recently traveled to America for the first time, and the book held snapshots from his trip: his Holiness in Washington standing before the Lincoln Memorial and the Air and Space Museum; his Holiness in California on the Santa Monica Pier" (48).

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"The rimpoche, it turned out, had recently traveled to America for the first time, and the book held snapshots from his trip: his Holiness in Washington standing before the Lincoln Memorial and the Air and Space Museum; his Holiness in California on the Santa Monica Pier" (48).

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In such a seemingly isolated place, the Himalaya, Krakauer is surprised to learn that this native Buddhist holy man has had worldly connections and experiences. Although Krakauer was mystified and overbearingly respectful, all it took was an implied shared experience to connect Krakauer to this man. No matter who you are, people can relate to each other even if they are raised completely differently.

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"But maybe I'm just being a snob, I scolded myself. In any case, it was obvious that all of my teammates were as excited as I was about the prospect of kicking their crampons into a genuine mountain come the morning" (75).

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"But maybe I'm just being a snob, I scolded myself. In any case, it was obvious that all of my teammates were as excited as I was about the prospect of kicking their crampons into a genuine mountain come the morning" (75).

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Krakauer's initial distaste for his companions was melted by the shared enthusiasm and love of mountaineering. It's good to see him show how his attitude changed on his journey. Krakauer is hinting at the changes that the journey and the mountain had on him, before, during, and after the accident. Although Krakauer has made other climbs, and suffered other tragedies, he chose to write about Everest. As the book goes along, I expect more and more self-reflection and progression in Krakauer.

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"The solo Norwegian, the Taiwanese, and especially the South Africans were frequent topics of discussion in Hall's mess tent. 'With so many incompetent people on the mountain,' Rob said with a frown one evening in late April, 'I think it's pretty unlikely that we'll get through this season without something bad happening up high" (100).

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"The solo Norwegian, the Taiwanese, and especially the South Africans were frequent topics of discussion in Hall's mess tent. 'With so many incompetent people on the mountain,' Rob said with a frown one evening in late April, 'I think it's pretty unlikely that we'll get through this season without something bad happening up high" (100).

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The dread created by the inexperienced teams on Everest foreshadows the disaster that killed Rob Hall. For an already strenuous climb, stressing about the safety of three other parties. combined with the intense drive to finish, low oxygen levels, and unfortunate timing led to some poor. fatal decisions. Perhaps Krakauer believed the accident was self-perpetuating, or with the preceding conditions, inevitable. Finding reasons for the accident may help Krakauer cope with something he could not prevent.

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"It was rough seeing him so discouraged. He'd become a good friend, unstintingly sharing the wisdom he'd gained during his failed attempt on the peak in 1995... I wanted him to reach the summit almost as badly as I wanted to reach it myself" (125-126).

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"It was rough seeing him so discouraged. He'd become a good friend, unstintingly sharing the wisdom he'd gained during his failed attempt on the peak in 1995... I wanted him to reach the summit almost as badly as I wanted to reach it myself" (125-126).

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Krakauer is admitting the fellowship formed between him and his teammate, Doug. Earlier he expressed doubts and concerned for this commercial group. but as Krakauer acclimates to the mountain, he too gets comfortable with his crew of motley adventurers. On the mountain, you can't change the cold, the weather, or your groupmates. Adaptability is an important value needed to keep this expedition afloat, which is complemented by trust and teamwork.

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"Every time the door was opened, the shelter would fill with blowing spindrift, so everything inside was covered with an inch-thick layer of snow" (208).

spin·drift

/ˈspindrift/

noun

fine wind-borne snow or sand.

Ex. The vicious spindrift blanketed the trees with snow

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"The night had a cold, phantasmal beauty that intensified as we climbed. More stars than I had ever seen smeared the frozen sky. A gibbous moon rose above the shoulders of 27,824-foot Makalu, washing the slope beneath my boots in ghostly light, obviating the need for a headlamp" (165).

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"The night had a cold, phantasmal beauty that intensified as we climbed. More stars than I had ever seen smeared the frozen sky. A gibbous moon rose above the shoulders of 27,824-foot Makalu, washing the slope beneath my boots in ghostly light, obviating the need for a headlamp" (165).

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Krakauer's use of the words "smeared" and washing" makes the Himalayan scene seem as though it is out of an oil painting. Not only does he describe it as frozen and devoid of life by using words like "cold" and "frozen", but as spiritual as well by using "phantasmal" and "ghostly". Krakauer captures Everest's otherworldliness though gorgeous and effective descriptions such as this.

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"But on this expedition he had been cast in the role of invincible guide, there to look after me and other clients; we had been specifically indoctrinated not to question our guides' judgement. The thought never entered my crippled mind that Andy might in fact be in terrible straits - that a guide might urgently need help from me" (188).

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"But on this expedition he had been cast in the role of invincible guide, there to look after me and other clients; we had been specifically indoctrinated not to question our guides' judgement. The thought never entered my crippled mind that Andy might in fact be in terrible straits - that a guide might urgently need help from me" (188).

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As Krakauer recalls the Everest disaster, his guilt forces him to reflect on the mistakes his addled brain made while at the top of the world. He allowed assumptions of role to control his actions, and that lead to him losing his friend, Andy. Krakauer, at first quick to assign blame towards others now forces himself to become guilt-ridden in sullen reflection.

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"How had I made such an egregious mistake? Was I really so debilitated that I had started into the face of a near stranger and mistaken him for a friend with whom I'd spent the previous six weeks? And if Andy had never arrived at Camp Four after reaching the summit, what in the name of God happened to him?" (220).

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"How had I made such an egregious mistake? Was I really so debilitated that I had started into the face of a near stranger and mistaken him for a friend with whom I'd spent the previous six weeks? And if Andy had never arrived at Camp Four after reaching the summit, what in the name of God happened to him?" (220).

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Krakauer not only misses his chance to help Andy, but also falsely reports his safe return, again based on assumption. Not only does he have to break the hearts of Andy's family by revealing his disappearance, he must also carry that guilt with him. Krakauer is forced to reflect on his faults and guilt, hopefully allowing for him to forgive himself.

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"As I write these words, half a year has passed since I returned from Nepal, and on any given day during those six months, no more than two or three hours have gone by in which Everest hasn't monopolized my thoughts. Not even in sleep is there respite: imagery from the climb and its aftermath continues to permeate my dreams" (284).

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"As I write these words, half a year has passed since I returned from Nepal, and on any given day during those six months, no more than two or three hours have gone by in which Everest hasn't monopolized my thoughts. Not even in sleep is there respite: imagery from the climb and its aftermath continues to permeate my dreams" (284).

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Jon Krakauer left the mountain, but Everest has not left him. His judgements, complaints, and distance from most of his teammates ended up not mattering. He caused grief, and suffered from grief. How much can he put it off to hypoxia and fatigue? He struggles with guilt, and cannot forgive himself. Haunted by so many losses, he continued to struggle.Maybe some day he will start feeling humility and not guilt.