Illustrated Quotations
I chose 5 quotations from various parts of the novel, each one discussing a different part of the journey to the top of Everest, as described in Into Thin Air. Use the map below to track where each quote takes place:
Quote #1: "Absorbed by my surroundings and the gravity of the labour, I lost myself in the unfettered pleasures of ascent, and for an hour or two actually forgot to be afraid," (p. 83).
Location: Khumbu Icefall
One idea that can be easily found in Into Thin Air is that mountaineering is a sport that requires extreme skill. One can easily decipher between someone that is a good, experienced climber, and someone that has little technical and high-altitude experience. This quote is significant because it reflects the tremendous skill and determination needed to successfully climb Everest. Being able to remain calm and patient in this tremendously dangerous and intimidating environment reflects the skill of an experienced climber. This specific quote was referring to Krakauer's ascent up the Khumbu Icefall, which is regarded as one of the most technically challenging parts of the South Col route to Everest's summit. This quote, revealing that Krakauer was able to remain as calm as possible and focus on his dangerous surroundings, shows that Krakauer is a very technically experienced climber. His experience and strong abilities may have been what allowed him to survive while many others did not.
Location: Khumbu Icefall
One idea that can be easily found in Into Thin Air is that mountaineering is a sport that requires extreme skill. One can easily decipher between someone that is a good, experienced climber, and someone that has little technical and high-altitude experience. This quote is significant because it reflects the tremendous skill and determination needed to successfully climb Everest. Being able to remain calm and patient in this tremendously dangerous and intimidating environment reflects the skill of an experienced climber. This specific quote was referring to Krakauer's ascent up the Khumbu Icefall, which is regarded as one of the most technically challenging parts of the South Col route to Everest's summit. This quote, revealing that Krakauer was able to remain as calm as possible and focus on his dangerous surroundings, shows that Krakauer is a very technically experienced climber. His experience and strong abilities may have been what allowed him to survive while many others did not.
Quote #2: "It was a shock to see these guys - both of whom had been climbing well lately - in such a state. Frank's apparent deterioration came as a particular blow: I'd assumed from the beginning that if any of the member's on our team reached the top, Frank -who'd been high on the mountain three times previously and seemed so savvy and strong - would be among them," (p. 158).
Location: Camp Three
Into Thin Air stresses the fact that Everest is unpredictable. It is this unpredictability, however, that continues to draw many people on an extraordinarily dangerous journey to its summit. This quote takes place just after Krakauer arrived at Camp Three. He is discussing his disbelief at the weak condition of his teammates, specifically Frank Fischbeck, who had seemed like such a stronger contender for the summit at the beginning of the journey. This quote is extremely significant to the novel as it pinpoints the idea that the way one's body will react to Everest's demanding environment/climate (both mentally and physically) cannot be predicted. Although someone may seem perfectly qualified to withstand Everest's challenges, it cannot be certain how their body will react to the change in altitude, depletion of oxygen, and the mental limitations that the mountain poses. It may be for this reason, therefore, that talented climbers like Frank, Rob Hall (the expedition guide) and Scott Fischer (expedition guide assistance) all perished in 1996, while less experienced climbers did not.
Location: Camp Three
Into Thin Air stresses the fact that Everest is unpredictable. It is this unpredictability, however, that continues to draw many people on an extraordinarily dangerous journey to its summit. This quote takes place just after Krakauer arrived at Camp Three. He is discussing his disbelief at the weak condition of his teammates, specifically Frank Fischbeck, who had seemed like such a stronger contender for the summit at the beginning of the journey. This quote is extremely significant to the novel as it pinpoints the idea that the way one's body will react to Everest's demanding environment/climate (both mentally and physically) cannot be predicted. Although someone may seem perfectly qualified to withstand Everest's challenges, it cannot be certain how their body will react to the change in altitude, depletion of oxygen, and the mental limitations that the mountain poses. It may be for this reason, therefore, that talented climbers like Frank, Rob Hall (the expedition guide) and Scott Fischer (expedition guide assistance) all perished in 1996, while less experienced climbers did not.
Quote #3: "Reaching the top of Everest is supposed to trigger a surge of intense elation; against long odds, after all, I had just attained a goal I'd coveted since childhood. But the summit was really only the halfway point. Any impulse I might have felt toward self-congratulation was extinguished by overwhelming apprehension about the long dangerous, descent that lay ahead," (p. 189)
Location: Summit
After reflecting back on Into Thin Air, this quote continues to stand out as incredibly interesting to me. When reading about Krakauer's ascent leading up to the summit, I continually wondered what it would be like once he really got to the peak. I wondered how he would react, how he would feel, and what he would do to mark the momentous occasion. After all, he will have accomplished a goal that he had set for himself as a child. However, once Krakauer actually got to the summit of Everest, he reacted with little excitement or happiness, because for him, it was really only the "halfway point." To me, this quote is extremely powerful because Krakauer's "overwhelming apprehension about the long, dangerous, descent" acts as foreshadowing for the grotesque events that follow. Little did Krakauer know, the fear and apprehension that he felt at the summit would soon be for good reason.
Location: Summit
After reflecting back on Into Thin Air, this quote continues to stand out as incredibly interesting to me. When reading about Krakauer's ascent leading up to the summit, I continually wondered what it would be like once he really got to the peak. I wondered how he would react, how he would feel, and what he would do to mark the momentous occasion. After all, he will have accomplished a goal that he had set for himself as a child. However, once Krakauer actually got to the summit of Everest, he reacted with little excitement or happiness, because for him, it was really only the "halfway point." To me, this quote is extremely powerful because Krakauer's "overwhelming apprehension about the long, dangerous, descent" acts as foreshadowing for the grotesque events that follow. Little did Krakauer know, the fear and apprehension that he felt at the summit would soon be for good reason.
Quote #4: "Hutchison decided that Lhakpa was right - there was only one choice, however difficult: let nature take its course with Beck and Yasuko, and save the group's resources for those who could actually be helped," (p. 260).
Location: South Col (on descent)
Found in one of the more emotional moments of Into Thin Air, this quote reflects the life and death decisions that the 1996 expedition team was forced to make on the mountain. This quote refers, specifically, to the choice made by Krakauer and other teammates to leave two climbers who were close to death, rather than trying to save them. Its very significant to the novel as it demonstrates the tremendously difficult decisions that the team leaders were forced to make on the spur of the moment while descending the mountain. Although the novel focuses on the summit attempt on Everest, one of the major themes was how the decision-making process resulted in some members of the team living, while others died.
Location: South Col (on descent)
Found in one of the more emotional moments of Into Thin Air, this quote reflects the life and death decisions that the 1996 expedition team was forced to make on the mountain. This quote refers, specifically, to the choice made by Krakauer and other teammates to leave two climbers who were close to death, rather than trying to save them. Its very significant to the novel as it demonstrates the tremendously difficult decisions that the team leaders were forced to make on the spur of the moment while descending the mountain. Although the novel focuses on the summit attempt on Everest, one of the major themes was how the decision-making process resulted in some members of the team living, while others died.
Quote #5: "It cant be stressed strongly enough, moreover, that Hall, Fischer, and the rest of us were forced to make such critical decisions while severely impaired with hypoxia. In pondering how this disaster could have occurred, it is imperative to remember that lucid thought is all but impossible at 29,000 feet," (p. 285).
Location: Reflecting on Everest
This quote, from Into Thin Air, demonstrates Jon Krakauer's thoughts as he reflects on the disaster. It highlights the fact that climbing Everest is a physically challenging feat in two ways. Firstly, it is an arduously challenging endeavor just to climb the world's highest peak. However, the second factor, making it exponentially more difficult, is the environmental challenges of climbing in the death zone where there is insufficient oxygen to normally sustain life. This environment makes it nearly impossible to form any rational decisions, because of the altered state that this lack of oxygen causes. It is for this reason, that although many have tried to assess blame as to how the tragedy occurred, this can not be done. This was one of the main arguments that, I believe, Krakauer was trying to make when deciding to publish this book.
Location: Reflecting on Everest
This quote, from Into Thin Air, demonstrates Jon Krakauer's thoughts as he reflects on the disaster. It highlights the fact that climbing Everest is a physically challenging feat in two ways. Firstly, it is an arduously challenging endeavor just to climb the world's highest peak. However, the second factor, making it exponentially more difficult, is the environmental challenges of climbing in the death zone where there is insufficient oxygen to normally sustain life. This environment makes it nearly impossible to form any rational decisions, because of the altered state that this lack of oxygen causes. It is for this reason, that although many have tried to assess blame as to how the tragedy occurred, this can not be done. This was one of the main arguments that, I believe, Krakauer was trying to make when deciding to publish this book.