Mistakes and Precautions on Everest

Mistakes In Into Thin Air
Mistakes That Lead to Tragedies and Precautions That Lead to Success
The best way to bring attention to a problem is tragedy. Unfortunately, this means reform will not
happen until the loss or harm of life has already occurred. One example of this was seen in New
York, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. This fire was the cause of 146 deaths and many more
injuries; however, this lead to new law regulating work safety standards. While this is a tragedy that
caused reform in 1911, the same method of reform stands today. This can be seen in the novel, Into
Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. The novel is an account of what happened on the mountain during the
1996 Everest expedition. While the expedition started off with high hopes and dreamers ready ...
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In order to continue climbing Everest, many aspects of climbing need to be improved before more
people endanger their lives to try and reach the roof of the world. The guides have some areas that
need the most reform. During the ascension of Everest the guides made a plethora mistakes that
seemed insignificant but only aided in disaster. The guides first mistake is allowing "any bloody
idiot [with enough determination] up" Everest (Krakauer 153). By allowing "any bloody idiot" with
no climbing experience to try and climb the most challenging mountain in the world, the guides are
almost inviting trouble. Having inexperienced climbers decreases the trust a climbing team has in
one another, causing an individual approach to climbing the mountain and more reliance on the
guides. While this approach appears fine, this fault is seen in addition to another in Scott Fischer's
expedition Mountain Madness. Due to the carefree manner in which the expedition was run, "clients
[moved] up and down the mountain independently during the acclimation period, [Fischer] had to
make a number of hurried, unplanned excursions between Base Camp and the upper camps when
several clients experienced problems and needed to be escorted down," (154). Two problems present
in the Mountain Madness expedition were seen before the summit push: the allowance of
inexperienced climbers and an unplanned climbing regime. A third problem that aided disaster was
the difference in opinion in regards to the responsibilities of a guide on Everest. One guide "went
down alone many hours ahead of the clients" and went "without supplemental oxygen" (318). These
three major issues: allowing anyone up the mountain, not having a plan to climb Everest and
differences in opinion. All contributed to the disaster on Everest in
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Literary Elements Of Forshadowing In The Novel 'By Jon...
Literary Elements
Foreshadowing
"My compadres dallied to memorialize their arrival at the apex of the planet ... using up precious
ticks of the clock. None of them imagined that a horrible ordeal was drawing nigh. Nobody
suspected that by the end of that long day, every minute would matter" (Krakauer 11).
"'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,'" (Krakauer 104).
Jon Krakauer uses foreshadowing many times in the book, especially when closing out chapters just
like what these two quotes. Most of the foreshadowing used by Krakauer also always refers to the
disaster that is coming. This reminds readers that although at times everything seems to be fine in
the book, disaster is imminent. It is a sad and effective way to end a chapter.
Imagery
"The escarpments above camp were draped with hanging glacier, from which calved immense ice
avalanches that thundered down... The Khumbu Icefall spilled through a narrow gap in a chaos of
frozen shards. The amphitheater opened to the southwest, so it was flooded with sunlight; on clear
afternoons when there was no wind," (Krakauer 63).
"For the first time on the expedition the vista was primarily sky rather than earth. Herds of puffy
cumulus raced beneath the sun, imprinting the landscape with a shifting matrix of shadow and
blinding light."
Imagery is a very important

Mount Everest Case
[pic] Executive Summary: The Mount Everest case can be summed up as inefficient distribution of
leadership, skills and resources in the face of imminent natural disaster. Teamwork consist of
interdependency, mutual accountability and understanding common goals and working with respect
to each other's complementary skills. Effective team's consist of understanding perceptions of others
and help motivate each other to continually work towards the common goal. Working towards a goal
in a team usually does not run a straight course. In order to offset these issues that can come into
play one may need to optimistically receive suggestions, abstain from narrow perceptions and
outlook and trust on the team. Trust helps to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Overlap in roles creates conflict, wasted effort, and unintended redundancy. When climbers began to
feel too sick to continue their trip up the mountain, they were lead down by either a Sherpa or a
lower ranking guide. However when Dr. Dale Kruse began to feel too ill to continue, he was led
down by group leader Scott Fischer. It was definitely not expected of a leader to take up chores of
the lower ranked guide when his expertise is required for more crucial situations .Scott's decision
lead to resentment among his clients. Recommendation: The right structure will enhance team
performance. Firstly, if a team wants to improve the performance, it needs to develop the right mix
of expertise. Its means each member should focus on his or her best ability area, which that makes
the team to save time and improve efficiency. A high–performing teams develop a common
commitment to working relationships" (Bolman and Deal, pp.108). Team members should clearly
understand who will do what jobs, how to make decisions and the skills need to develop in the team.
Also "High–performing teams translate common purpose into specific, measurable performance
goals." (Bolman and Deal, pp.107).Which means all team members should have a common goal,
and analysis whether the goal is specific and measurable. A detailed goal is more powerful and
useful for all team members. Analysis of the scenario

Mt. Everest May Of 1996
In the wake of the 1996 disasters, a doctor decided to perform an experiment that required him to
follow a team of hikers to measure for the first time, the toll high–altitude climbing takes on the
heart, lungs, blood, and brain. I thought it appropriate to incorporate some of the evidence acquired
from the studies done by the group, seeing as the interest for this experiment was triggered by the
tragic events that had materialized on Mount Everest May of 1996. The program is a first scientific
study I have seen on what occurs in human body when it is steadily experiencing this type of stress.
The program shows what happens to the awareness and physical ability in low oxygen pressure.
While superficially seeming to be normal, under intense testing done by the researchers, it is clear
that there stands weakening in the hiker's brain capacity to process information. ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Since this program I now have renewed admiration for the mountaineers, especially for Edmund
Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay who was the first to climb Mt. Everest. When they climbed they did not
have the lightweight equipment, or ropes to help them make their climb helpful. They did not even
have the established safety route to the summit like there is today. It was fascinating to watch this
show, to see how people react to altitude, to watch what is actually happening to them
physiologically. It was like having a first–hand experience without the danger of actually

Mount Everest Research Paper
On May 10th 1996, the most catastrophic storm on Mount Everest took place. On this day a group
of mountain climbers would reach the summit of Mount Everest, but five would not make it back
down. The climbers reached the summit early afternoon that day but were not expected a fatal storm
to hit. The storm strangled many on the top of the mountain and killed 5, including one of the most
respected high–altitude guides in the world, Rob Hall.
Five climbers never made it back down. Yasako Namba, Andy Harris, Doug Hansen, Scott Fischer,
and Rob Hall were all killed by the storm. Yasuko Namba was a Japanese climber, 47 years old. She
is the oldest person ever to summit Mount Everest. Andy Harris was a New Zealand guide, he was
31 years old. Scott ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was part of Rob Hall's guided expedition, leading him to the top and through the storm. He is a
writer for Outside Magazine, which is how he got on the mountain. He was supposed to join Rob
Hall's group to climb the mountain and write a story on the adventure up Mount Everest. His
experience was ruined by the tragic storm. Jon Krakauer said in his story "the next thing I knew I
was sitting on the ice with my face in my hands and tears streaking my cheeks, weeping like I hadn't
wept since I was a small boy. Safe now, the crushing strain of the preceding days lifted from my
shoulders, I cried for my lost companions, I cried because I was grateful to be alive, I cried because
I felt terrible for having survived while others had died." Jon Krakauer was devastated. He just went
through the most dangerous event to ever take place on Mount Everest. In spite of him surviving, he
was miserable that so many had to die while he lived. Despite the fact that Jon Krakauer had
mountaineering experience, some of his teammates lacked the experience required to climb the
tallest mountain in the world. This, consequently caused some mistakes to be made. In addition to
the storm, made for a recipe of disaster, which could be the reason why five people had to

Jon Krakauer Research Paper
Jon Krakauer is a journalist for magazine called Outside, that lives in Seattle, Washington. One day,
the magazine Jon worked for got a call from Adventure Consultants, an expedition team that guides
people up Mount Everest for a hefty fee, asking them to send a reporter to write about climbing
Mount Everest. Krakauer immediately volunteered for the task. The Outside paid for all Krakauer's
climbing expenses, and about a year later he began his journey. After arriving in Nepal and meeting
the rest of the team, Krakauer and the crew made the trek to reach Base Camp. Base Camp was
where all climbers stayed to become acclimated to the high altitude of 17,600 feet before climbing
11,430 feet more to the peak of Mount Everest. Rob Hall, an experienced climber that was leading
the team, had a plan for the crew to become acclimated to the thin air by making three partial
ascents up Everest, before climbing to the summit. After proving to Hall that the team was ready,
they picked a clear day to reach the top of Mount Everest. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Even though they were supplied with oxygen, everyone on the team experienced narcosis due to the
high altitude, making it hard to think clearly. Krakauer, Hall, and a few others reached the summit of
Everest at the turnaround time, but not everyone made it to the top. Once the team started climbing
back down, they ran into Doug Hansen, a 46 year old that had previously climbed Mount Everest
yet did not reach the summit, who was determined to reach the top this time. Hall took a gamble and
decided to go back up to the summit with Hansen even though it was past the turnaround time, but
Krakauer and the others continued their

The Between Camp Four And The Summit
Many factors contributed to the bottlenecks between Camp Four and the summit, including: The fact
that no Sherpas left ahead of the climbers to fix ropes to aid in climbing above the Balcony, which
left the climbers waiting while Beidleman, a guide, fixed the ropes; the Taiwanese team, who were
climbing very slowly and all together, making it impossible to pass them, therefore creating delays
for the climbers behind them; and the fact that once the ascent had begun, Hall's Sherpas were not
eager to assist in fixing the ropes, presumably because they were angry that Fischer's Sherpas were
not sharing the workload as had been originally planned.
Krakauer was critical of Boukreev in this section of the climb because Boukreev was not using
supplemental oxygen or a backpack, both of which Krakauer felt he should have had in the case of
an emergency, as Boukreev was a guide, and charged with helping and protecting the clients, an
ability which Krakauer thought was inhibited by this lack of oxygen and supplies, especially
considering how much the high altitude and thin air affects the ability to think clearly.
Just before reaching the summit, despite the fact that he was having difficulty breathing, Krakauer
was actually quite calm but disoriented, and relatively excited about the prospect of reaching the
summit. However, at the moment of his summit, he did not feel the elation that he expected, but
rather apprehension and dread about what he knew to be a difficult descent.
Chapter

Heroism In Into Thin Air
In Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, a Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Jon Krakauer
explains his encounter with the great Mt. Everest. As a child, Jon Krakauer longed for climbing, yet
he never envisioned that this one ascension would be a calamity. Krakauer was doled out by Outside
Magazine to write about the business undertakings that were being directed on Mount Everest in
May 1996. Jon Krakauer, the storyteller and creator, depicts a direct record of this disastrous
voyage. Krakauer, his aide, and a gathering of climbers set out to the highest point of Mt. Everest to
perceive how dangerous or safe it was to handle the world's biggest mountain. Lamentably, 1996
was Everest's most exceedingly bad season ever, and Krakauer describes the ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Krakauer depicted the excursion as a toxic substance . Numerous relatives and companions of the
climbers that kicked the bucket were exceptionally angry with Krakauer 5 depiction of what
happened. thus Krakauer apologizes at the very end. In the book, Into Thin Air, you meet the
individuals and aides of Jon Krakauer's group. Loot Hall was the pioneer and head aide of the
campaign, and in addition, Scott Fischer, his aides, and some of his colleagues. Other individuals
who lost or verging on lost their lives were essentially on this voyage. Individuals like Yasuko
Namba, Andy Harris, Doug Hansen and others were extraordinary motivations to Krakauer all
through the endeavor. Unfortunately, not everybody on the mountain was a decent gentleman, you II
be living on account of the threats the groups experience because of the inability. inner selves,
pomposity, and vindictiveness of the couple of rotten ones.. Krakauer experiences numerous unsafe
circumstances and turns into a man who spurs himself all through the entire story and settles on
choice to expound on this staggering knowledge most likely made it hard for him since he likewise a
man who somewhat made it himself. For the

Hbs Mt. Everest Case Study Essay
HBS Case Review: Mt. Everest Case Study
Introduction
The case of Mt. Everest focuses on two commercial expeditions, Adventure Consultants and
Mountain Madness, and the tragic event on May 10, 1996. These two commercial expeditions were
lead by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, and were consisted of 20 members. Both leaders were
experienced climbers, but due to several factors, the expedition resulted into five deaths including
Hall and Fischer. The event has thought managers to evaluate the importance of leadership together
with its internal and external factors that managers should consider to survive in the high risk
business world.
Case Study Questions
1) Why did this tragedy occur and what are the root causes of this disaster? ... Show more content on
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Lack of psychological safety within the team members failed to fix cognitive bias of irrationality. If
members developed trust within the team, cognitive bias could have been prevented or at least
minimized. The truth that climbers might make irrational decisions and find it hard to turn back
when they are so closed to the summit was obvious, but teammates seeing this problem did not
speak up since they did not feel that their thoughts were welcome and felt uneasy. More cognitive
biases could also been prevented to lessen the complex system of the expedition. Since climbing Mt.
Everest is already a high risk venture, any additional problems such as irrational decisions can cause
a crisis. Using the early sign of issues with Hall's team's progress, it was obvious that the probability
of failing the expedition was high before the team even started. Hall could have used the issues as a
sign of the complex systems that exist, and could have used this knowledge to prevent any irrational
decisions. The complex systems and the lack of psychological safety also contributed to the tragedy.
The team members failed to communicate and trust each other, which then added more problems to
the complex systems. For instance, Boukreev's could have spoken up to his team leader, Fischer,
about his concerns regarding his team members lacking experience to begin with. By speaking up,
he could have prevented more chain reaction due to lack of communications and feedback within
the

Into Thin Air Analysis
Into Thin Air is a novel which provides a personal view from Jon Krakauer about a treacherous
disaster on Mount Everest in 1996. After reading the novel, I can say the book came out to be much
better than expected. Initially, I assumed that the book would simply guide a reader from
Kathmandu to the summit, but the book held much more value within its pages. Although there is
one component of the story that I disliked, I can still say that Into Thin Air is a very interesting
novel which could both inspire people to climb Everest or stay away from it. For the most part, the
novel was very enjoyable. One aspect of it that I loved was that the storyline was extremely intense,
which always compelled me to find out what would happen next. For example, ... Show more
Although there were two full chapters that took place on the summit that came later, only a fraction
of them shared Krakauer's experiences. When this chapter is put together, one could probably state
that it was somewhat a spoiler, and it could have been omitted. As much as I thought that the first
chapter should have been removed, the book, overall, changed the way I viewed Mount Everest. The
novel helps to understand that there is much more than just climbing up and down. For instance,
when Krakauer talks about expenses and equipment, he says, "That autumn the ministry raised the
permit fee again to fifty thousand dollars plus ten thousand dollars for each additional climber." This
shows that there is an extensive amount of planning and equipment to be covered. Krakauer also
tells that a storm on Everest can be much more deadly than a storm at sea level. At the end of
chapter twenty, he says, "Brice Herrod is now presumed dead, the twelfth casualty of the season." Its
descriptions like these which make me view Everest as both a great challenge, but also a potential
deathtrap. The intensity of Into Thin Air just keeps accumulating as every page gets flipped.
Although the first chapter was somewhat a spoiler, I would still recommend that others read

Mt. Everest Essay
Mount Everest 1996
Abstract
In 1996 two expedition adventure organizations joined operations to climb Mount Everest. Mount
Everest is an unpredictable "800 pound gorilla" that demands respect from all that would attempt to
achieve a fraternal summit acquisition. The pitfalls that await an assuming prepared expert can turn
a well laid out plan into a treacherous and lethal reality. The expedition to reach the summit on May
10th, 1996 is a blue print of the defiant forces of nature and human error.
Two companies joined together to make the journey to the summit of Mount Everest in the spring of
1996. Both companies had expert climbers and guides that had reached the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The weak points stand out far more now than they did in 1996, way more. The decision that their
would be only one person to call all the shots regardless of what anyone else thought was a big sign
of possible failure. There did not seem to be any emphasis on customer satisfaction. History is
littered with the ruins of countries and people who followed blindly or wrongly without question,
discussion, or refusal to agree. No decision was made to have a second in command if the leader
became incapacitated. Arrogance had no role in an expedition of this magnitude. Experienced
climbers with concerns were stifled and kept their opinions to themselves. The whole idea of
recruiting multiple experienced personnel in any organization is to allow them to make the
organization better. It was clear that there could only be one alpha dog in this expedition. People
who hid the fact that they were too unfit or healthy to make the attempt should have stepped down.
Anyone who can not make it on their own becomes a liability. There appeared to be a disregard for
the needs of the clients and the climbers who had reservations. The communication devices were
either too old or too few to accomplish the task at hand. Even with the limited technology that was
used, the application of it would have had to be deployed precisely to achieve appropriate

Alliteration In Into Thin Air
The text is an extract from chapter 8 in Jon Krakauer's adventurous nonfiction book, Into Thin Air,
based on the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. In the text, the author utilizes simile, alliteration, and
symbolism to describe the hazardous climb in Mt. Everest to the readers, which the danger further
illustrate the theme of conflict of values.
First of all, similes are used to informs readers about the deadly climate on Mt. Everest. When
sunlight exposes, the author mentions the ice walls "amplifying radiant heat like a huge solar oven"
(line 4). The simile compares the radiant heat to a huge solar oven, which emphasizes the heat of the
climate as huge solar oven produces extreme heatwaves. Although this comparison is an
exaggeration, it succeeds ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Everest. Camps such as Camp One and Two all symbolize small goals of the hikers because
climbers set their sights on reaching the next camp rather than to reach the summit. Camps represent
small goals of a larger goal. In this scene, Krakauer reaches Camp Two, only achieving one of the
first few small goals, yet he already encounters problems as he "came upon a large object wrapped
in blue plastic sheeting... that was a human body" (line 11–14) and becomes "too miserable to eat or
even read" (line 20–21) due to the altitude's malicious force. This is just the situation in Camp Two,
the early stage of the journey, and the situation is already bad with things going to be worsening in
the higher camps. The symbolism of the camps, therefore, help picture how dangerous Mt. Everest
is even in the lower level of the summit climb. The danger further exerts pressures on hikers,
making them face a conflict of values. As hikers, they have values of being courageous. However,
since Mt. Everest is established to be extremely dangerous even at the early stages, they face inner
conflict to whether or not to continue believing in their value, or to think about the value of safety
and life first. They are forced to doubt in their values since they only achieved a small goal, but are
already confronted by the severe reality of

Character Analysis: Into Thin Air
With a wind chill of a hundred degrees below zero and a rapidly diminishing supply of oxygen,
travelers are ascending their way to attain their ultimate destination, the summit of Everest. Jon
Krakauer confronts a countless number of physical and psychological obstacles with his comrades
along the ceaseless expedition. Into Thin Air is a reflection of physical and psychological violence
because of the treacherous environment, varying experience level of each climber, advertisement of
Everest, and the mental conflict within each individual.
First and foremost, Jon Krakauer, along with his fellow teammates, undergoes the physical
impediment of severe environmental conditions. Throughout their excursion, they encounter a
conflict with harsh precipitation, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For the duration of the novel, Krakauer and his teammates independently withstand an experience
like no other. Specifically, "'If you get killed," she argued with a mix of despair and anger, "it's not
just you who'll pay the price. I'll hao pay, too, you know, for the rest of my life. Doesn't that matter
to you?'" (Krakauer ) In this example, Krakauer's wife, Linda, shows the consequences of
proceeding to climb Mount Everest. Throughout the entire trip, Jon Krakauer constantly has to
caution himself that he has family back home, and if he does not make it out alive, not only will he
pay the price, but his family would be devastated. This is a continual concern that lingers with him
along his journey on Everest. Another psychological dilemma that occurs is the residual effect on
Krakauer. For instance, "Mortality had remained a conveniently hypothetical concept, an idea to
ponder in the abstract. Sooner or later the divestiture of such a privileged innocence was inevitable,
but when it finally happened the shock was magnified by the sheer superfluity of the carnage..."
(Krakauer ) Here Krakauer portrays how the tragedy of the "Everest Disaster" affects him
subsequently. Jon Krakauer ascends the mountain as a magazine journalist, but descends as a soldier
with emotions of bleakness and desperation. The fact that Krakauer still consumes his thoughts with
this terrible

Into Thin Air Book Report
Into Thin Air
Marielle Fabrigas
Period 6
Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air. New York: Villard Books, 1997
Jon Krakauer, a mountaineer and an American writer who is known for a number of written works
about his adventures in the outdoors, always had the burning ambition and fortitude to fulfill his
childhood dream of climbing Everest; when the opportunity to do so knocked, he jumped on the
offer to accomplish his goal. Unfortunately, that same inner push led him to the catastrophe that was
to come along the journey to the summit, said disaster prompting him to write a novel, Into Thin
Air; by doing so he believed that writing the book to share the indelible moments and obstacles he
had encountered might cleanse his mind from the trauma he suffered during the ordeal.
Into Thin Air describes Jon Krakauer's experience in detail about his ascent up Mount Everest, a
climb that transpired during late April through mid–May of the year 1996. Whilst focusing on his
perspective of the climb by describing his perseverance through the fear, exhaustion, and lack of
oxygen, he also provides a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Krakauer hopes to shower some wisdom about how this mountain is not just an object you can
conquer as yours but rather something you have to work for, expressing this sentiment through his
personal account of the expedition. In a more technical sense, he also explains to be careful up in the
higher altitudes because of the trauma he has experienced and observed from his group mates; he
reminisces on their unusual behavior and delusions caused by the lack of oxygen, the ill–decision
making that followed leading to danger during the expedition, and how certain individuals who were
blinded by their determination to reach the summit completely disregarded the many hazards that
the climb had to

The Events Leading Up Of The World 's Most Experienced...
May 10, 1996 will be remembered as one of the most tragic and unforeseen days in the history of
mountain climbing as five people, including two of the world's most experienced climbers, lost their
lives. Analyzing the events leading up to and including the climb and descent reveal poor leadership
and flawed decision making as the root cause of a team being assembled that was not adequate for
climbing the mountain. Ascending Mount Everest requires both physical stamina and mental
toughness. It is not a feat that everyone can achieve. There were several people in both Rob Hall and
Scott Fischer's groups who had little to no experience in high–altitude climbing, but were still
selected to join the expedition. They were selected because of ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
One part of the strategy in order to complete the mission seemed fairly clear: everyone must be
physically fit and have some experience climbing at high altitudes or else they will not be able to
adapt to the challenges of scaling Everest. Even Rob Hall, Fischer's counterpart, said that he could
only get people who "are reasonably fit," up the mountain. While the definition of reasonably fit is
not clear, it is apparent that Dale Kruse, who "had a history of becoming sick at high altitudes," and
Klev Schoening, who did not have a great deal of high altitude experience, were not qualified.
As the leader of the expedition, it is Scott Fischer's responsibility to adhere to a strategy that would
put the group in the best position to achieve the overall mission. His overconfidence caused him to
stray away from assembling the best suited clients. By allowing clients who did not have the
physical fitness or adequate experience to join the team, he failed one of the functions of a
successful leader: to decide upon and adhere to a strategy that would lead to the successful
completion of the mission. Failure to adhere to a strategy causes a team to have a tougher path to
success, which was clearly the case with Fishcher's expedition. An effective leader would have had
strict guidelines regarding fitness and experience that each client must meet before they are allowed
to join

Book Overview: Into Thin Air By Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air
Summer Reading Assignment
Part 1: Precis
The book Into Thin Air is a non–fiction book written by Jon Krakauer, and it's about his struggle in
the events leading to the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The main characters in Into Thin Air is Jon
Krakauer, the narrator of the book, Rob Hall, the man leading the expedition, and Andy Harris, a
guide who slowly became one of Jon Krakauer's best friend. The conflict is Man Vs. Nature
therefore the conflict is a struggle between the climbers who are trying to survive and conquer
Mount Everest. Jon Krakauer is a retired climber hired by the Outside Magazine to join an
expedition on a journey to climb Mount Everest. During the climb to the peak of Mount Everest he
details his experience on Mount ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At first Jon Krakauer thought nothing of him when he first met Beck as shown in the book ""To
aging Walter Mitty types like myself, Dick Bass was an inspiration," Seaborn Beck Weathers
explained in a thick East Texas twang during the trek to Everest Base Camp last April. A forty–nine–
year–old Dallas pathologist, Beck was one of the eight climbers on Rob Hall's 1996 guided
expedition" (24). As the book went on and the conditions in Mount Everest got worst, Joe
Krakauer's view of Beck changed as he ended up becoming one of the last few survivors of the 1996
expedition of Mount Everest through sheer determination, strength, and courage. For example
"Although Beck was blind in his right eye and able to focus his left eye within a radius of only three
or four feet, he started walking directly into the wind, deducing correctly that camp lay in that
direction... Struck dumb by Beck's miraculous resurrection, an exhausted Hutchison crawled outside
to answer the call" (264). From this observation Jon Krakauer transformation of his thoughts on
Beck signify Krakauer realization of human

Into Thin Air John Krakauer
Title: "Into thin Air", by John Krakauer Date of publication: Published in 1997 Mt. Everest during
the 1996 Mt. Everest Disaster in a dangerous rogue storm (April –May) Characters: John Krakauer:
narrator of the novel, Outside Magazine helped paid for his journey and was one of the members
who ascended Mt. Everest. Rob Hall: part of the Adventure Consultants, helped guide Krakauer up
the mountain, very strong climber, and is always there for others, no matter what. Ang Dorje Sherpa:
likes Rob Hall, helps anyone who is in need, even when it is at his expense. Mike Groom: a doctor
who went with the group and is considered a hero and a survivor at the end. Key events in the plot 1.
The ascent went ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"Hall was charging $65,000 a head to guide clients to the top of the world." (Krakauer 35) It proves
that people are willing to pay a significant amount of money to endure all of the pain associated with
climbing Mt. Everest, most likely for fame and recognition. Very few people have climbed Everest
and a person who climbs it will instantly become popular until the next person completes the
expedition. It does not make people think of the risks versus rewards of their decisions and can lead
into serious consequences like they will experience throughout the novel. 2. "This forms the nub of
a dilemma that every Everest climber eventually comes up against: in order to succeed you must be
exceedingly driven, but if you're too driven you're likely to die."(Krakauer 70) People cannot give
up on their goals or even hope, no matter how dangerous it can be, however, do not push yourselves
too much. You need to be smart about the next steps in your journey. One mistake and it can be over
for all involved. Many people had the determination and pushed over their limits throughout the
novel and some did not make it back to camp alive as a result. 3. "Finally I woke up enough to
recognize that I was in deep trouble and the cavalry wasn't coming so I better do something about it
myself." (Krakauer

1996 Everest Argumentative Analysis
On the day of May 10, 1996 a total of eight people died during the storm of Everest. Rob Hall and
Scott Fischer were the main leaders of two different groups; Rob Hall being the leader of the group
"Adventure Consultants" and Scott Fischer "Mountain Madness". These leaders had an impressive
reputation of being skilled and being an experienced high–altitude climbers. Each expedition
included the team leaders, guides, clients, and assisting sherpas. Some question the cause of the fatal
disaster. There are many theories and disagreements concerning the 1996 Everest disaster; some
blame the powerful blizzard–like conditions, others put the blame human errors such as lack of
communication, inexperience, and wanting a positive reputation. It is argued

Who Is Responsible For Jon Krakauer's Death
In 1996, climbers on Mount Everest suffered through the worst disaster to date on the mountain. A
huge storm hit as they were climbing towards the summit. Eight of the climbers ended up dead. Jon
Krakauer, one of the few survivors, told the tale of all the survivors in his book Into Thin Air. After
surviving, he questions multiple things about the world, such as the concept of mortality. He
questions who is responsible for the deaths of the others in this book, or if self–preservation is the
bottom line. I believe that Jon Krakauer is most responsible for everyone who died to an extent.
However I also believe he cannot be fully blamed and self reliance is needed. Jon Krakauer is
responsible because he took inexperienced people who weren't well

Mt Everest Simulation
Mt. Everest Simulation–
Personal Reflection
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction to Mount Everest team and Leadership simulation 2 2.0 Our Team Process Efficacy
3 2.1 The role of the leader 3 2.2 Psychological Safety 5 2.3 Group Thinking 7 3.0 Conclusions 8
4.0 Reference 9
1.0 Introduction to Mount Everest team and Leadership simulation
Climbing Mount Everest is a dangerous undertaking, a Herculean task fraught with difficulties,
danger, complexities and volatile weather conditions. Disaster can strike without warning, leaving
the most competent and experienced professional high altitude mountain climber gasping for breath,
and desperately fighting to stay alive. Death is not uncommon to mountaineers who ... Show more
Everest, just as in any organisation, these interactive factors determine the failure or success of a
company. Leadership style and behaviour play critical roles, so does the team decision making
process, and the ability of the group to work confidently together as a team contributes to the
individual quota of expertise toward a common goal. Our team made a concrete plan from the outset
on how to assault the Mt. Everest simulation and shared vital information held by individual
members. As I held onto my phone handset, I could hear the team chatting in a relaxed manner
despite knowing there was a mammoth task ahead. I sensed high energy, a friendly atmosphere, a
strong relationship among the team members, a team camaraderie and connection which are
essential elements affiliated to highly effective teams.
The team leader of our expedition exhibited democratic leadership style and behaviour.
Undoubtedly, she empowered team members to make decisions and foster open communication
which created a highly positive and motivated climate. However, as a leader sometime you need to
make decisive decision, equally matched with precise action, with little time for team deliberation.
In actual fact, a leader must master the art of improvisation to succeed in climbing Mt. Everest, just
like in a business, a well–designed business strategy can easily become obsolete. From my
standpoint, I questioned our leader's swift decision–making ability based on the

Into Thin Air By Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is one of the most well–known mountaineering books to this day.
Like numerous mountaineering books the story is about the hardship the characters face while
focusing on the main goal of climbing Mt. Everest the highest mountain in the world. Krakauer a
very famous author writes about the expedition he went on for outside magazine in 1996. The story
reveals the biggest disaster on Everest to this day. Overall, the novel is great and I would highly
recommend it to a friend. However this is a great story I am still not sure how this book could relate
to the AP environmental science course curriculum. Krakauer slightly confronts the negative
environmental impact climbers have done to Everest due to the fact the mountain

The 1996 Everest Disaster: Into Thin Air By Jon Krakauer
The 1996 Everest Disaster, best known as Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. The basis for "Into Thin
Air", are not without controversy. Krakauer also wrote of inexperienced clients, competition among
commercial guide outfits and communication failures. Commercial expeditions have been a popular
way for amateurs and non–amateurs to conquer Everest. Commercial guiding expeditions have led
to many deaths and pollution of the Mountain.
Mount Everest, part of the Himalayan mountain range, is the highest mountain in the world with an
elevation of 29,029 feet.
After understanding and analyzing the tragedy of Everest, that took eight lives, we can conclude that
the incident may occur due to several causes by nature or human error. The major factor that lead to
this tragedy is the lack of team work and communication. Even though they were all in the same
expedition, eager to reach the summit. While knowledge on humans behaving in extreme situations
is limited, most of us believe we would not let someone die in the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
We also know, from the appendices to "The Climb" in which some of these arguments are detailed
that Krakauer pretty adamantly stuck to his account in the face of attempts to correct him. I think
that Krakauer feels that even if he's wrong about particular matters of detail, still his account gets to
the heart of the matter, that is, that it reflects a basic truth of the extent of Boukreev culpability.
Krakauer accepts his own part in the tragedy. He agonizes over the part he played in misreporting
what happened to Andy Harris, and about his inability to help the other climbers in his party after he
had made it down to the South Col. But from Krakauer perspective, Boukreev was insufficiently
remorseful. He didn't accept that the outcome might have been better if he had acted

Sherpas In Into Thin Air
The human race is guided through their lives by the past experiences of others; the survival of a
species is dependent of the tales passed down. The tales of climbing are also passed down and to the
ones that don't make it, the deepest condolences go out to their families in rough times. To the
guides and Sherpas of the Everest disaster who periled, they made the climb possible for twenty five
others who were on the slopes. The guides and sherpas of any expedition deserve a lot of respect for
the amount of expertise they share with the other climbers. To do this, sources such as Jon
Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air, personal websites of guides themselves, Tibet Travel, a source
explaining the importance of Sherpas, and more will be used to highlight ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Everest and there is also a history to another Himalayan mountain. This mountain is perhaps the
most deadly in the entire world and those who climb it have to take extreme precaution. This
mountain is called K2. At only 800 feet shorter than Everest, K2 has claimed more lives for herself.
The 2012 movie, a documentary called Summit, solidifies the idea that these mountains are among
the most dangerous mountains in the world. With a team member on a 2008 K2 expedition saying
K2 is far more dangerous than Everest itself, the use of Sherpas and guides is essential. Tragedies
strike many as being exposed to the extreme wind, snow, and lack of oxygen can cause a climber's
health to decline rapidly. (Jon Krakauer, the author of Into Thin Air, experienced this first hand
when many of his teammates had fallen due to altitude sickness, the cold, or they get too
exhausted).Those who climbed either K2 or Everest know that the steep inclines and extreme
weather conditions can lead to death caused by exhaustion and/or exposure. The events occurring in
May of 1996 claimed eight lives due to the unforeseen conditions. The guides and Sherpas of the
mission are there to take them up the mountain safely and come back down the mountain safely. The
sources suggest that even though guides and Sherpas are valuable, the terrain ultimately decide how
capable each client is. Each guide and Sherpa worked to make sure that the trips were as safe and
time effective as possible. Without the use of these fine men and women many would get lost and
die on the barren terrain of

How Did You Know Mount Everest?
Did you know Mount Everest means "goddess of the skies" in Nepal? (Czerwinska) By looking at
basic information about Mount Everest, climbing Mount Everest, and famous climbing expeditions,
one can see that Everest is a very difficult mountain to climb.
Mount Everest is located in Nepal and China. It is the largest mountain on earth, 29,035 feet above
sea level (Arnette). It was originally named peak 15 back in 1856 which measured 29,002 feet above
sea level (Czerwinska). Mount Everest was created by tectonic plate activity pushing the earth over
60 million years ago (Czerwinska). Since the plates are still moving, Mount Everest grows around
0.25" each year (Arnette).
Mount Everest has a different weather pattern since it is so high up

The Everest Disaster, Best Known As Into Thin Air By Jon...
The 1996 Everest Disaster, best known as Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. The basis for "Into Thin
Air", are not without controversy. Krakauer also wrote of inexperienced clients, competition among
commercial guide outfits and communication failures. Everest has gone from being the ultimate
challenge for the most–skilled mountaineers to a bucket list item for adventure seekers. Commercial
guiding expeditions have led to many deaths and pollution of the Mountain.
Mount Everest, part of the Himalayan mountain range, is the highest mountain in the world with an
elevation of 29,029 feet. More than 4,400 climbers have reached the peak since Edmund Hillary and
his Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, first "summited" it in 1953. Edmund Hillary, a ... Show more content
The companies do not want to give you the satisfaction they cannot take you to reach the summit but
not all of them can. It's not right to make someone believe they can do something when you know
half of the people cannot.
Every year, hundreds of climbers try to scale the 29,000 peak, and this huge overload of climbers
has left the slopes covered in garbage, thrown out equipment, and human waste. A report by
Grinnell College estimated there are 12 tons of feces left on the mountain every year, buried in the
snow or near the peak. About 50 tons of garbage lying around on Everest involving from oxygen
containers to food wrappers, along with the more than 200 climbers who died attempting to reach
the summit. The Nepali government has ordered each climber to bring back at least a certain amount
of trash or lose their deposit. Although there are questions about how well this rule is enforced, but it
seems the experts are now finding less trash to bring back. But it does not forgive the fact that it had
to get this far to start cleaning up the trash. The government should have made the rule from the
beginning. There's no knowing how much more garbage is left or what's under the ice. There are too
many people up there who does not know what that can do with Mount Everest.
In 2013, Everest was climbed by 658 people during the yearly two–month climbing window. The
previous year, 234 climbers reached the peak in a single day. As a result,

Why Did the Mt Everest Tragdey Happen? Essays
On May 10, 1996 six people died trying to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. These people were parts
of two expeditions that were in the Himalayas, preparing to ascend the summit for six weeks. The
first group was under the direction of Rob Hall, who had put 39 paying clients on the summit in five
years. Hall was considered the leader of the mountain and the man to see no matter what the
discrepancy. Group two, headed by Fisher, who like Hall, was trying to start a profitable business in
providing the experience of climbing Mt. Everest to all for the price of 60 to 70 thousand dollars.
Unfortunatly, neither man would live to tell the tale of this expedition. At 11 pm on May 9, these
climbers began their final ascent to the summit. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She was described as a "Manhattan socialite" who had to be short–roped (assisted in climbing) by a
head Sherpa because she became exhausted. She was the only high–profile client of Fisher, and he
was determined for her to succeed for marketing reasons. Because the head Sherpa was assisting
her, he fell behind and they all fell behind their deadline.
The urgency to sell adventure to anyone who would pay or bring publicity was not the only stressor
Hall and Fisher were under. Another factor was the amount of pressure on both of the guides to run a
successful business. Although they were friends, they were also rivals. The previous year, Hall failed
to actually get any of his clients to the top of the mountain. Fisher, while he was a well–respected
climber and had even scaled Everest without oxygen, had never led a guided tour before. He was set
on obtaining a few high–profile clients to get his business off the ground. Both men were under
tremendous pressure to do well this season. This contributed to their decision to push past the
deadlines to turn back, as well as to bring unprepared clients. Another major factor that caused the
tragedy was the passive and submissive attitudes that the guides forced upon the clients. Sherpas
carried the heavy loads, set–up the camps, and even cooked the meals. Before departure, Hall and
Fisher most made it very clear that the guides were the only ones with any authority, and were never
to be questioned on the

Essay On Into Thin Air
"We are only as good as our equipment" or at least that is how the saying goes, but what happens
when we have the best equipment and our bodies no longer tolerate atmospheric conditions? Into
Thin Air, written by Jon Krakauer, shows how individuals vary greatly in how well they can tolerate
changes in pressure, temperature or oxygen content of the air. This allows them to be one with
themselves by bounding with survival, while simultaneously displaying how slowly environmental
changes set in, but how rapidly the effects take a toll on the body. Despite breaking down the climb
into camps the climb's structure was one that was also hard to tackle. There was the base camp,
camp one, camp two, camp three and camp four. Krakauer, notes that all of the clients going up the
mountain have difficulty adjusting to the environmental changes, and though ... Show more content
During Chapter 5, Hall is the one who is struggling most and as they arrive at base camp, they are
surprised at the conditions and effects that the expedition has had on the men already, especially
Hall. It is in this chapter, that Krakauer notes that the climbers were having difficulties sleeping and
eating, and cuts were not healing, and everyone was beginning to lose weigh. Additionally, Krakauer
mentions that other members of the team were having severe headaches and gastrointestinal
problems. However, Hall is confident in the acclimatizing process, but is also constantly studying
the data, and schedules to be sure that they do not encounter anything that they are not prepared for.
Additionally, Krakauer mentions that there is a difference between training in a gym than by training
on an actual mountain; he is concerned for many of his teammates because they have not climbed in
a year or two before this

Into Thin Air In Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air
Jon Krakauer may not be loved or even respected by all but there is no denying he's an adventurous
man, courageous individual, and a brilliant writer. Jon Krakauer writes about climbing Mount
Everest in his non–fiction memoir Into Thin Air in order to convey his message that the greatest
fight in life is man vs. the natural world.
Jon Krakauer has had a very interesting life. He was born in Massachusetts and moved to Oregon
(Hunter). A climber since 8, Krakauer's life revolved around climbing (About). After graduating
college, Krakauer spent his time as a fisherman and a carpenter to fund his climbing. When he
decided to become a writer, he wrote for a multitude of websites and magazines before and during
his time as a novelist. Although he ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Before even writing Into The Wild, Krakauer wrote an analysis of the Everest disaster that won him
a National Magazine Award. Everest, his book about the big story, was widely acclaimed. It was not
only the #1 New York Times Bestseller but also Time Book of the Year and a finalist for a Pulitzer
Prize. In 1999, Jon Krakauer received one of the highest possible awards for a writer, an Academy
Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The award was, "to honor
writers of exceptional accomplishment," a bill that Jon clearly fit.

Summary Of Jon Krakauer's Essay 'Into Thin Air'
Lopsang Jangbu was clearly downsized by Jon Krakauer in his article "Into thin Air" and Lopsang
quite frankly did the right things on the Everest expedition on 1996. Lopsang did not deserve the
accusations and the accusations presented by Krakauer. In Krakauer's article "Into Thin air" he states
Lopsang did the wrong things that jeopardize the expedition and caused the disaster, this is
completely as Lopsang counters the argument in saying he wanted to make sure that every climber
made it to the summit. How did he do this? First he short roped Pittman up the mountain while
carrying 80 lbs. of equipment. At the summit he left his ice–axe in a dangerous spot so other
climbers could get to the summit. H waited for all the climbers to get done

Into Thin Air Disaster
When people often take on the challenge of climbing Mt. Everest, they are aware of the risks that
comes with it. One of the biggest controversal disasters that occured on Everest is the 1996 Mt.
Everest disaster. A group of many, includng the author of Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer, were all
caught in a storm when almost nearing the summit whivh concluded to 8 deaths and a story others
could never tell. In the sstory, it shows a large point of veiw of what happened through the trip, and
a majority of people had to find who to to blane for what had happwned. Aftter readind and
understanding, i choose to believe that Jon Krakauer and the Nepal government are responsible for
the deaths that occured during the disaster on 1996 Besides the weather, the suffering still did occur,
which showed the true colors of the poeple. Krakauer and Nepal pressured a choice of good and evil
during this trip with caused the deaths to make the others partially at fault. Jon Krakauer was
responsible for the death of Andy Harris, although a big part was the nature such as the environment
and the boulder, Krakauer cannot avoid the fact that he plays a part. It starts off with Krakauer
saying he sees himself in Andy which builds a connection between them and the begin the journey
together Krakauer ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In 1996, any person could challenge themselves to climb Mt. Everest, and that was not a very smart
decision. "...ushering a gaggle of relatively inexperienced amateurs [...] into an apparent death trap?"
(1.8) This speaks about how the government rules were so lenient that people would walk in just to
find themselves dead. People without the proper training and vitals such as immune system were
able to risks their lives for an achievement. There should be some type of background check to see
who is a caple to climb the mountain because people will die, such as they did die. Nepal was
careless to let people who aren't up or ready for the risks up the

Everest Incident Of 1996
May, 1996. Everest. People died, others were abandoned, and those who lived had to suffer with
haunting memories of the mountain. It was nothing short of a catastrophe. It was caused by a
multitude of things, but mostly incompetence, inadequate preparation, unenforced guidelines, and
unfavorable circumstances. Everything becomes a deciding factor when death is involved, and
especially during this perilous expedition.
There are many things that could have been put into play to prevent this disaster. A very important
one is better preparation for climbing. Simple things, like fixing ropes or getting more radios could
have helped immensely, and prevented many deaths. For example, we are shown one possible effect
of something basic being ignored ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The weather, specifically, was awful and intense, so much so that you couldn't differentiate anyone
who didn't introduce themselves. It took a toll on everyone, being such an extreme blizzard at such
an unexpected time. Along with this, everyone was so drained and impaired, and weren't able to
help. This caused a few people to die, as they were unrightfully abandoned; one example being Beck
Weathers. He was left to perish on the mountain about three times, though he did survive. He
suffered a lot, and still does, and––due to his unfortunate time on Everest––has lost his hand and a
few fingers. The summaries do not lie, when they mention Into Thin Air as being "a story of bad
luck". Bad luck was, in my opinion, the greatest catalyst for this tragic journey.
Into Thin Air was very interesting and intriguing for me, most of the way through. I watched a scene
play out, a disastrous scene, and was astounded by the fact that all of it was real. I saw how all of
these perils and dangers played a role in creating this catastrophe, and I realized how difficult it
actually is to get to the top of Everest and survive the descent. It isn't just a simple climb, nor a trek
made easy with technology; an expedition is a life–deciding experience, and––as it occurred in this
situation–– small, fixable mistakes, and bad luck, can turn a life–long dream into a

Into Thin Air, By Jon Krakauer
Everest. As the king of the Himalayas, it remains as the world 's tallest mountain and is an
insurmountable obstacle to the success of mankind. Attempting to reach the summit of this mountain
requires the imprudent ability to take risks, an unyielding resolve, and a great amount of luck.
However, mankind's ludicrous arrogance accosts the mountain, taking on nature's greatest challenge.
Everything worked out for the first couple decades, until nature unleashed its sheer wrath obliviating
flesh and blood. In 1996, one of those disasters occurred. The number one national bestseller book,
Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, is a personal account of the Mt. Everest Disaster that details the
horrors of the incident. The question is, who were ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, that is only the initial responsibility. On the actual climb itself, the guides and sherpas
have a responsibility to fulfill to protect the clients and guide them to the summit and down. The
guides are paid almost $70,000 from each client. That was the price that our main guide, Rob Hall,
expected anyways. The money would be used for extra supplies and to pay the Sherpas. Clients
were expected to have their own climbing equipment and pay for their own travel expenses. The
Sherpas would be paid $1500 to $2500, which was four to five times higher than their annual salary.
Seventy thousand dollars is a lot of money. Despite knowing this, the clients still paid the guides,
even when they continued to raise their prices. This meant that the climbers fully expected the
money to be worth it. Their lives would be held in the guides hand, who would dictate their every
move on the climb. It is because of this, that the guide should feel the most responsible in taking
care of the clients. After being paid for such a large amount, they should prioritize the the lives of
their clients, than abandoning them to the enticing lure of the summit. Rob Hall, for the most part,
did really well at this. Rob, would give cautious instructions and would always order the climbers
back if they didn't reach the deadline point in time. He stated that, "I will tolerate no dissension up
there. My word will be absolute law, beyond appeal. If you don't like a particular decision I

Forecast
Management Excellence Toolkit–Part 4: Improve Your Estimating and Forecasting Effectiveness
March 16, 2011 by Art Petty Leave a Comment 27 Note from Art: Your decisions define you as a
leader and a manager, yet we spend very little time in our busy lives finding ways to improve our
abilities in this area. This Management Excellence Toolkit Series will help you recognize the
challenges and pitfalls of individual and group decision–making and offer ideas on improving
performance for you and your co–workers. Part 1 of this series emphasized the importance of
developing, updating and referencing a Decision Journal. Part 2, focused on understanding how we
make decisions and how various traps and biases often derail us. In Part 3, we ... Show more content
The cost, time–to–market (or implementation) implications are huge! Alternatively, I've observed
over–zealous executive teams declare a time–to–market mandate without consideration of the
project complexities. The pressure on the project teams results in estimates executives "want to
hear," but that have no basis in the reality of the work. As time and cost estimates are missed, the
environment tends to deteriorate into one of finger–pointing, excuse–making and general
dysfunction Fear Impacts Estimates: While fear pushes project estimates out into the future, this
same environment likely results in ultra–conservative sales forecasts on one hand and unrealistic
cost estimates on the other. For anyone accountable for revenue and/or expense numbers, you tend
to take your cue on these numbers from environmental pressures. I've observed managers who felt
pressure to inflate revenue forecasts out of fear of being viewed as naysayers and poor team players,
while at the same time, deflate expense numbers out of fear of being viewed as not having control
over costs. Fear in the workplace creates estimating and forecasting gamesmanship. Prior
Performance May Be a Poor Predictor: Much like the recency effect displayed by the Everest
expedition leaders, we open additional trap doors for our estimating and forecasting approaches by
relying too much on prior performance in spite of changing conditions. The past is

Examples Of Foreshadowing In The Call Of The Wild By Jon...
On November 22 of this year, I witnessed firsthand my grandfather's birth to eternal life. After a fall
knocked James Berka unconscious, emergency responders arrived; my grandpa had been oxygen
deprived for only a few short minutes but was ultimately declared brain dead. As my family and I
spent our final moments with him before he would be removed from life support, many tears were
shed. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and closure for my grandpa. As he lay in the
hospital bed totally oblivious to life, he was immune to the side effects of Parkinson's, a disease he
had battled for many years towards the end of his life. At that moment, my grandpa was not swaying
uncontrollably nor struggling to articulate a single sentence. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Before the reader even begins to dive into the story itself, he or she encounters an "in memory of"
dedication page, dropping the names of several characters that died on the mountain. Initially, one
may overlook the true meaning of this, but after becoming acquainted with those characters further
in the story, the reader comes to terms with the fact that many climbers will die prior to the end of
the book. Krakauer also incorporates many quotations from characters regarding potential disaster
far before the climax reaches. Before the first chapter, Krakauer asserts, "The plain truth is that I
knew better but went to Everest anyway. And in doing so I was a party to the death of good people,
which is something that is apt to remain on my conscience for a very long time" (XVII). At this
point, Krakauer has hardly exposed the reader to any pertinent plot information, and by using this
quotation, Krakauer uncovers–before the first chapter–his feelings of remorse upon the conclusion
of the story. Contrary to an ordinary book, the reader will absorb the entire story already knowing
the ending. Various foreshadowing quotes, consistently placed throughout Into Thin Air, forbode the
climax; Rob Hall indicates, "With enough determination, any bloody idiot can get up this hill. The
trick is to get back down alive" (Krakauer 153). As the reader initially digests this quotation, he or
she may find it difficult to notice any direct foreshadowing. However, Krakauer's methodical
placement of foreshadowing quotes throughout the book all serve a purpose by the end of the

Into Thin Air Report
I blow the candles out on my sixteenth birthday cake, yet again wondering where my dad could be.
This would be one of the more important birthdays he has missed, yet at this point it doesn't come as
a shock to me. Whenever it was his time to see me, he would always leave me alone at home.
Although my father is no climbing extraordinaire, he still managed to miss much of my life. Similar
to my experience, I read about how famous guide Scott Fischer missed majority of his sons
birthdays due to his climbing career, and I felt like I could very much relate to the situation of a
father not being home often. The compelling book Into Thin Air includes heart wrenching stories
like this and much more. Into Thin Air describes the chilling events of the famous Mount Everest
disaster of 1996 that left 12 people dead, told from the perspective of Jon Krakauer, a journalist and
climber part of the 1996 expedition to write an article for Outside Magazine. While telling the
events that occurred over just a span of two days, Krakauer also adds information regarding the
mountain itself and Sherpas, who make the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He makes an effort to dedicate whole chapters to describe people which causes the reader to develop
attachments to the various people. He includes numerous specific details about the people's lives in
order for the reader to develop a connection with that person. For example, Krakauer writes,
"Arnold would have returned to the mountain again this year, except that she was seven months
pregnant with their first child" (Krakauer 52). Krakauer includes this intimate detail about Rob
Hall's personal life in order for the reader to further develop a personal connection with Hall, so they
keep this in mind further into the book. If the reader develops such a connection with Hall, they are
more likely to have an emotional connection with others as

Critical Analysis Of Into Thin Air By Jon Krakauer
When I was first told my class was going to read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, I mentally prepared
myself to read the most boring book I've ever read; however, as I began reading, I found myself
relating to Scott Fischer, the overconfident guide who thought he had everything figured out. I often
feel the same way, like I've got everything under control. Often, though, I don't have everything
under control and it backfires on me, just like it did with Fischer in the spring of 1996. I can also
relate to Fischer because even when he is hurting and tired, he pretends to be okay and doesn't let
other people know that he's not okay. Into Thin Air begins when Jon Krakauer is sent by Outside
magazine to write an article about the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It isn't until Fischer threatens to jump off the side of the mountain that Lopsang reluctantly leaves
him to go get help. Another example of loyalty is Rob Hall to Doug Hansen. Because Hall had
turned Hansen around three hundred feet from the top the previous year, Hall was determined to get
him to the top no matter what, and he refused to leave his side while doing so. When Hansen and
Hall get caught above Hillary's Step, Krakauer writes "Hall, however, wouldn't consider going down
without Hansen" (241). Even when Hall was told he wouldn't survive if he didn't leave Hansen, he
stayed with him tried to help him on the descent. When Hansen dies, the climbers can tell how much
grief Hall feels when he doesn't mention his name again after saying he is gone. A final example of
loyalty is between Scott Fischer and his clients on the mountain. Because he allows them to climb at
their own will, they get into trouble, which results in Fischer running up and down the mountain to
help and rescue them. Then, on summit day, he is extremely tired and ultimately puts himself in
great danger because of it. In the end, one of the main reasons Fischer dies is because of his loyalty
and willingness to help his clients when in danger. The theme of loyalty in the book helps the reader
form an attachment The way in which Krakauer portrays himself makes the reader view him as an
accomplished climber with enough confidence, while still giving him sympathy for that

Essay on Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer On May 10, 1996, nine people perished on Mt. Everest. Jon
Krakauer, a writer from Outside magazine, was there to witness the events and soon after write the
book, Into Thin Air, chronicling the disaster. Jon Krakauer is not only the writer and narrator of Into
Thin Air but is also one of the main characters. Originally Outside Magazine planned to send
Krakauer to Everest in order for him to write a story for the magazine. The climb was completely
financed by the magazine with one of the leading Everest guide groups led by Rob Hall, an elite
climber. Krakauer divides the people on the mountain into two main categories, tourist and elite.
The elite being guides and Sherpas like Hall, Harris and Ang Dorje, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Despite his impressive record he had never attempted anything close to the scale of Everest, whose
summit is at an extremely dangerous altitude. He even admits to his relative inexperience with high
altitude saying, "Truth be told, I'd never been higher than 17,200 feet––not even as high as Everest
Base Camp"(28). Krakauer also mentions how he has gotten out of shape over the years partially
because of the lack of climbing in his life, making him even less prepared for the assent. Krakauer
shows a definite fear of such a high mountain, referring to climbers who have perished in the past.
He states that, "Many of those who died had been far stronger and possessed vastly more high–
altitude experience than I." (28). Even though Krakauer's experience may be more relevant to the
Everest assent than some of the other tourist climbers, it is nowhere near the level needed to be
considered an elite climber.
One of the most important qualities that an elite climber must have is leadership. The elite climbers
and guides must be able to meet a number of new people that are strangers to each other and build
some sense of a team. Krakauer does not have a strong background in leading groups or building
comradery, which is key for a climb like Everest. Krakauer says himself, "In climbing, having
confidence in your partners is no small concern" (40). He also mentions how the actions of one
climber can "affect the welfare of the entire team" (40). The type of group he climbed with on

Character Analysis: Into Thin Air
Miscommunication was one of the key factors that led to the catastrophe on Everest on May 10,
1996. One situation that led to the deaths on Mount Everest was the fixation of the ropes by the
Sherpas. Two of the hired Sherpas, Lopsang and Ang Dorje, were supposed to climb ahead of Rob
Hall and Scott Fischer's groups and fix the attached ropes to the side of the mountain. However, as
stated in Jon Krakauer's best selling novel Into Thin Air, there was a problem that forced a very long
delay.
"After the expedition Lopsang insisted that at the last minute Hall and Fischer had simply scratched
the plan to fix ropes in advance of their clients, because they'd received erroneous information that
the Montenegrins had already completed the job as high ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Lopsang and Ang Dorje did not show up to fix the ropes, it forced Neil Beidleman and others
to fix them. They are not as experienced as the Sherpas, and the guides waited for the Sherpas to get
there. It caused a huge delay, which is part of what caused the groups to get back later than
expected. Some people could argue that Lopsang and Ang Dorje didn't need to tell the guides about
the changed plans. If Rob Hall and Scott Fischer ordered them to not fix the ropes, then someone
else –– the Montenegrins –– had already taken care of it, and the guides would not have a problem..
However, this is not the case, because if they were told not to fix the ropes, then why did they carry
up 300 feet lines of rope with them? Obviously, a lack of communication between Lopsang, Ang
Dorje, Rob Hall, Scott Fischer, and the assistant guides caused a huge delay in summitting. A second
circumstance that led to the chaos during the attempted rescue was that the teams on the mountain
had no idea what was going on. For instance, in the book A Day to Die For by Graham Ratcliffe, it
states, "A serious mistake was made at this point, the consequences of which were certainly not the
fault of Neil or anyone else. It just happened. The mistake was that we were not given, neither had
anyone thought of, either a roll call or the total number of people we needed to count on the South
Col to determine whether anyone was missing" (Ratcliffe 132). If more people were informed –– or
at least informed correctly –– of what was going on they could have helped find how many people
were missing. Instead, in midst of the chaos of the situation, someone simply did not think about
what they told the other groups and that cost time and lives. One could say that the person telling
them to look for survivors thought that they knew who was on the other teams and didn't need a
number. This

Mistakes and Precautions on Everest

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