Analysis Of Into Thin Air By Jon Krakauer

The illnesses on Everest may not have all been evident in my life, but I have experienced a form of a high altitude illness. It occured when I was at a family reunion in Utah. Most would never think that they will be the victim of an illness caused by travel, but at last it can happen to anyone. Despite my high altitude sicknesses, regardless of what could happen, I still want to travel. The reason for my wanted travels are the experience new cultures around the world. This could be related to the characters “need” to go to Everest, “the pull of the mountain,” as some would say.
Within the book Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer focuses on his side of the tragedy on Everest in 1996. Jon Krakauer notes all the struggles within the tragedy

such as medical and environmental issues alike. Medical issues points out the struggle of HACE, HAPE, frostbite, hypothermia, and many other various illnesses. For environmental issues, Jon Krakauer emphasizes the prospect of a rogue storm that hits on Summit day, May 10th, which causes many problems for those on the mountain. Explore the expedition on Everest that numerous climbers lost their lives because of Everest’s fury. This non-fiction book also reminds the reader that just because someone has a lot of experience doesn’t meant that you can’t make a mistake or two, but one day that luck may just run out.
Unlike most others, Jon Krakauer has a different style of writing.

Difference being that traditional writing styles may have historical facts or background first followed by a beginning or introduction first, the actual story, and then finally the ending or conclusion. Jon Krakauer throws the reader in the middle of the story without any background as to what is occurring. “Straddling the top of the world, one foot in China and the other in Nepal, I cleared the ice from my oxygen mask, hunched a shoulder against the wind, and stared absently down at the castness of Tibet” (7). This is Jon’s true first sentence of his story of Everest. Next, he gives the reader historical information about Everest. Then, the true beginning starts as soon as the history is out of the way. He also formats the beginning of each chapter with location, the elevation at which he is currently at, the dates, and the times that the events are occuring. Jon also happens to put small author note to help explain to the reader of terms or more information of new ideas within the story. This is what makes Jon’s writing style so unique in the sense that it is like no

other.
Jon Krakauer’s portrayal of himself in Into Thin Air varies as to which point the reader is in the book.

The first distinctive portraul is as any other climber upon the mountain and foremost as a journalist. Another is of his own guilt, which he feels towards all those who he shares his experience with. He also claims to be a bystander in some ways since he did not have a very distinct part in the search efforts once the rouge storm hits. Jon is not one to shy away towards how others feel about him and his book. Lissa Fischer-Luckenbach wrote, “Based on your written word, YOU certainly seem now to have the uncanny ability to know precisely what was going on in the minds and hearts of every individual on the expedition” (297). Putting his letter into his book shows his understanding and acceptance of how others feel about this book, yet he also is demonstrating that he is ready to face the backlash of

others.
Within the text Jon Krakauer refers that people that are too driven are likely to die on Everest. His statement could simply mean that the pull of Everest can be too great for someone to ignore, yet if they do they may survive. The one’s too driven that died because of this pull were Rob Hall, Doug Hansen, Scott Fischer, and Andy Harris. Unlike these four, the solo climber Goran Kropp is about to summit, but at 28,700 feet turns around not submitting on May 3rd. “To turn around that close to the summit…” Hall mused “That sowed incredibly good judgment” (153). Hall in fact praised Kropp’s judgement to turn back, yet he didn’t turn around at 2:00PM like he initially planned everyone to. Because of his poor judgement, Hall and others pay the ultimate price of death.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer has a historical background of Everest that helps to explain all those famous for climbing the Goddess herself. For example, George Leigh Mallory the first believed to climb Everest, but he did not succeed. Going to modern day in 1996, Swedish solo climber Goran Kropp was only 300 feet away and turns back to save himself from death. Rob Hall, Scott Fischer, Andy Harris, Doug Hansen, and all those who climb Everest should learn from those who climb and fail. In fact the readers could learn from this book how to reflect upon the past and not allow for it to repeat itself.