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In this incredibly detailed account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest, Jon Krakauer describes the entire journey from Delta Dun, India at 2, 234 feet above sea level to Mt. Everest's deadly peak at 29, 028 feet. This deeply moving narrative not only honors the courage of the people on the mountain but also raises the question about leading inexperienced climbers to the highest peak in the world for a large sum of money. On May 10, 1996 disaster struck on the summit of Mt.
Everest when a blinding storm caught four groups of climbers leaving eight dead. Krakauer himself narrowly escaped death that claimed the lives of four of his teammates. Outside Magazine sent Krakauer to Nepal to report on the boom in high-priced guide services offering the chance for almost anybody in decent physical condition to attempt the summit. Days of training, practicing, and getting used to the extremely thin atmosphere all lead to one moment of truth, summit day.
Krakauer reports in detail his grueling experience prior to and after the storm hit. He describes how small misunderstandings, miscalculations, and wrong judgements all added up to this terrible tragedy. Part of the problem was at such high altitudes with little oxygen it gets harder and harder to think clearly (88). After writing an article about a month after the incident for Outside Magazine, Krakauer realized some crucial errors he had made due to his altitude-impaired recollections of the occurrences on the mountain. About a year later, after meticulous research by interviewing survivors and getting a hold on his own account of the story, he was ready to write the book. Many friends and editors urged him to wait two to three years before writing the book in order for him to gain crucial perspective on the situation, but Krakauer wanted to spill his soul in the immediate aftermath in the roil and torment of the moment.
Krakauer wrote The Everest climb had rocked my life to its core, and it became desperately important for me to record the events in complete detail. Krakauer uses many techniques to describe this event that is deeply imbedded in his soul. Dates are almost always included, along with times. By using times he is able to demonstrate how even a minute can mean the difference between life and death. Due to all the research he conducted, quotes are used wherever appropriate to impact the validity of the event. Another helpful technique is the way he describes the climbing techniques so even the most inexperienced climber would understand what was happening in the book.
These ways all help make this a wonderful book on the truths of these unpredictable mountains. Jon Krakauer does a fabulous job of describing the horrible chain of events he encountered high in the Himalayan Mountains. His descriptions create daunting pictures as well as describing the truths and horrors of climbing at such high altitudes on his personal account of the Mt. Everest disaster.
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Research essay sample on Jon Krakauer High Altitudes Book
