Irrationality due to lack of oxygen becomes important. Even an experienced guide such as Andy Harris is disoriented by lack of oxygen. Andy Harris catches up to him, and Krakauer asks Harris to turn off the valve on his oxygen tank to conserve the gas. Upload them to earn free Course Hero access! This perhaps defies expectations, as one might expect that summating the mountain would be the high point, or the climax. Several key themes are introduced in this chapter. People would ask why climbers hadn't turned around upon seeing the clouds Krakauer observed, knowing that bad weather laid ahead. Krakauer recognizes that the lack of oxygen has impaired his mental capacity. On the way down, he notices clouds over nearby peaks that had been clear just one … In the next paragraph, Krakauer lists the number of deaths and severe injuries that climbers suffered on May 10. Caching fresh canisters of oxygen along the route shows that the expedition leaders are keenly aware of how important it is to the survival of their clients (and themselves). The book begins in the middle of the story, when Krakauer reaches the summit of Everest. Summary. Although Fischer is a "legendary" mountaineer who had summited Everest before (without supplemental oxygen), he looks "hammered." Instead of celebrating, planting a flag, or even exchanging a high-five with another climber, Krakauer's feat is muted: "But now that I was finally here, actually standing on the summit of Mount Everest, I just couldn't summon the energy to care." Krakauer departs from his otherwise chronological narrative in this first chapter. Krakauer has to wait. August 11, 2017. In Course Hero. Oxygen is the sustainer of life high on the mountain. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. People would ask how mountain guides charging a small fortune for their assistance could push amateur climbers ahead in those conditions. But Harris's irrational behavior leaves Krakauer without oxygen while he waits for the long line of climbers to use the rope to get past him and up the mountain. Krakauer offers his own theory, acknowledging that he cannot speak for the guides or for the thoughts of anyone else on the expedition. Visit BN.com to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our award-winning NOOK tablets and eReaders. Then Krakauer drops a bomb on us: By the end of the night, more than six climbers will be dead. Unforeseen changes in the weather may be noticed, but no one on the mountain has the knowledge to interpret wispy clouds as the portent of an imminent major storm. Krakauer introduces the main players in the first few pages—Boukreev, Harris, Beck Weathers, Rob Hall, Scott Fischer, Yasuko Namba, and Doug Hansen. He has not slept for days but tries to savor the spectacular view on the bright, sunny day. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Into-Thin-Air/. Most of the main characters appear in the first chapter. The security and safety of guide ropes are vital. Climbing requires a delicate balance between relying on one's self and relying on others; Krakauer and the other climbers struggle to maintain this throughout the ordeal. Krakauer pauses to take a few photographs of the scene and of some climbers farther down the trail. Harris is himself in a state of hypoxia. Everest, too exhausted and delirious to … Krakauer remains on the top of the world for only five minutes, and as he prepares for the descent, he notices some clouds. Jon Krakauer, a writer and amateur climber, is a client on the Adventure Consultants climbing expedition; he serves as the book's narrator. "Just dragging ass a little ... No big deal," he tells Krakauer. Oddly, however, this somehow makes Krakauer feel, Ten minutes later, he suddenly feels "on the brink of losing consciousness" (1.14). At 1:17pm, Krakauer turns and begins descending after less than five minutes on the summit, pausing only to take quick pictures of fellow hikers Andy Harris, a guide on his team, and Anatoli Bourkeev, a guide on a different expedition. It has been almost three days since he has slept, and he describes various physical ailments—coughing, separated ribs, trouble breathing and an altered mental s tate due to lack of oxygen. That's when he realizes that Harris accidentally turned his O2 tank on full blast—and now it's. Krakauer finally makes it to the South Summit around three o'clock in the afternoon and hooks up a new canister of oxygen. Most of the main characters appear in the first chapter. Get the eBook on Amazon to study offline. Krakauer is in desperate need of it, but the confusion caused by lack of the gas threatens his survival. Bold. Krakauer is at the top of the world, only he is "incapable of feeling much of anything except cold and tired" (4). It is early afternoon on May 10, 1996, the day of Rob Hall's planned summit for members of his expedition. He descends quickly, down to the Hillary Step—a stretch of rock famous for its deadliness and difficulty. When he started out that morning, May 10, 1996, he had not seen any indication of the storm that was to follow. When Krakauer descends, he meets dozens of people on their way up. Some are exhausted, some are inexperienced, some are weak, but they are all going. We have tutors online 24/7 who can help you get unstuck. Krakauer sets this situation where a usually positive trait becomes not only negative, but also deadly. He reflects on the people now 400 feet above him, celebrating at the summit, unaware of what was to come.
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