Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

This month I was a thrill-seeking adventurer who vicariously climbed the slopes of Mt. Everest with Jon Krakauer while reading his book Into Thin Air. I decided to read this title because it was discussed at the fabulous nonfiction readers’ advisory session that I attended in Toledo recently and then, after the conference, Sarah C. recommended as a possibility for my Book of the Month title. As soon as I read the first few pages, it captured my attention and I was hooked.

Into Thin Air is as much about mountain climbing and adventure as it is about disaster. Jon Krakauer was a journalist working for Outside magazine when he joined the Mt. Everest expedition in March,1996. He was an experienced mountain climber who teamed up with similarly well-seasoned climbers (Anatoli Boukreev was the lead climber and Scott Fischer was the guide from the private Mountain Madness expedition), native Sherpas, and other experts. In addition, there were eight amateur clients in the group. After many grueling weeks of acclimation, complications, and delays, the expedition finally reached the highest pinnacle on earth on May 10, 1996. They briefly reveled in their achievement before it was time to descend. The descent turned disastrous when weather conditions rapidly deteriorated and turned into a rogue blizzard. Nine climbers (four from the Mountain Madness expedition and five from other parties) ended up losing their lives on the slopes.

The book is written in a first-person, diary-like format. And, it reads like a fiction book. The reader is made to feel as though they too are involved in the journey, step by step, up to the summit. The descriptions of events and conditions are quite detailed and precise—one can hear the concerns of the guides as the parties climb, one can feel the effects of thin air on the human mind and body, one can sense the dynamics between members of the expedition, one can visualize the awesome landscape, one can hear the wind howling and the snow blowing while members helplessly huddle in their tents, and one can feel the effects of the loss of fellow climbers on the remaining party members.

I also like that Krakauer tells his story with honesty and openness. He willingly discusses mistakes that were made by himself as well as fellow team members high up on the mountain. He readily describes the heroism displayed by those who attempted to rescue stranded members of climbing parties. He talks about his guilt for being one of those who survived the ordeal.

Into Thin Air is exciting, heart-pounding nonfiction read. I highly recommend it, especially for armchair adventurers like me.