Premettendo che io e l'alpinismo non abbiamo mai avuto il piacere di incontrarci, questo libro, che è l'essenza dell'alpinismo, mi è piaciuto tantissimo.

Partendo per gradi, il punto di forza di questo resoconto è che è stato scritto da un "reduce", permettendo di sentire subito gli stati d'animo autentici.

Poi, il fatto di non aver insistito troppo sugli aspetti tecnici e di focalizzarsi più sull'emotivo e relazionale ha reso la lettura più scorrevole.

Ma quello che più mi ha coinvolto è stata la sensazione di essere presente nella spedizione, di conoscere gli sherpa e di vedere attraverso le foto e i disegni i momenti più intensi.

Insomma, è una lettura di rara emozionalità e carica di fascino per l'ignoto.

E come dice Harold Brodkey, "capire significa tremare" e questo libro mi ha fatto proprio questo.

Numb!

This simple word can describe a state of being that is all too familiar to many. It's a feeling of being emotionally or physically unresponsive, as if one's senses have been dulled.

When we're numb, we may not feel the joy of a beautiful moment or the pain of a difficult one. We might go through the motions of our daily lives without really experiencing anything.

Numbness can be caused by a variety of factors, such as stress, trauma, or overwork. It can also be a side effect of certain medications or substances.

But just because we're numb doesn't mean we have to stay that way. There are ways to break free from this state and start feeling again. We can try activities that engage our senses, like painting, dancing, or cooking. We can also reach out to others for support and connection.

Remember, being numb is just a temporary state. With a little effort and self-care, we can find our way back to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.

Re-read June 2016

I have a suspicion that Krakauer might be a bit of a jerk in real life. I will admit that I sometimes wonder why many of his books have a strong "me" bit. However, he is an immensely talented writer. He faced some criticism for this book. It should be noted that I read the earlier edition, the paperback version that was published about a year after the events. So, the later afterword is not present. In this version at least, Krakauer doesn't seem overly harsh towards the socialite. He notes that despite her attitude, her fellow climbers, especially the man he respects, respected her. Does she look like a saint? No, but I wouldn't call it a hatchet job. He isn't particularly kind when describing some of his fellow climbers' skills. Yet, I think this is a human failing. He is just as harsh about himself. And one does get the sense that he blames himself. At the very least, the book is a good starting point for a discussion involving clients and climbers and whether such an option should even exist for mountains like this one.

I got this book with the intention of giving it to my brother, but then I started reading it. I simply couldn't put it down.

Added 12/19/12 - Engrossing. Krakauer received some criticism (to put it mildly) for his article. It also deals with the question of the reporter and the subject. Krakauer blames himself as much as anyone, so it does feel like a brutally honest book.

I read this for the first time when it was published in paperback. At that time, I didn't remember too many details. Sadly, 8 people died.

By then, the mountain had already become a crowded tourist destination, attracting many people with questionable motives. One of them was a socialite from New York City. Her incompetence put the other climbers in danger. For long sections, she was actually dragged up the mountain by one of the Sherpas. If it hadn't been for special treatment, she would have died on the way down.

Once a huge storm hit, everything turned into complete chaos, and it was too much for many people to handle.

The situation on the mountain was extremely dangerous and challenging. The actions and decisions of each person had a significant impact on the outcome. It was a tragic event that left a deep mark on those who witnessed it or were involved in it.

We should learn from this incident and respect the power of nature. When we pursue adventure and exploration, we must also ensure our own safety and the safety of others.

This is likely the finest climbing book I've perused, notwithstanding the controversy that shrouds certain aspects. It was as captivating as books such as Endurance and equally readable. I accompanied the author on the mountain, experiencing the excruciating pain of the losses they endured, the guilt of the survivors, and the numerous "what ifs" that followed the event.

The author recounts his personal experiences of climbing Everest in 1996 with several groups. This was the fateful year when many participants failed to descend the mountain due to a series of errors and an untimely snowstorm. He also documents a significant amount of the history of other climbs and delves into the personalities and characters of some of the great climbers.

More broadly, I am drawn to these adventure books and stories that possess a certain allure. However, whenever I read about the cost (a minimum of $70,000), the risk (1 in 4 people die during an Everest attempt), and the pain and potentially life-altering injuries from frostbite, I am always grateful that I can simply read about it from the warmth and comfort of a safe altitude on dry land.

There is something distinctive about those who embark on achieving these goals. Krakauer describes them thus:

To become a climber was to join a self-contained, rabidly idealistic society, largely unnoticed and surprisingly uncorrupted by the world at large. The culture of ascent was characterised by intense competition and undiluted machismo, but for the most part, its constituents were concerned with impressing one another only. Getting to the top of any given mountain was considered much less important than how one got there: prestige was earned by tackling the more unforgiving routes with minimal equipment, in the boldest style imaginable

I find myself pondering how they feel when it's all over. They have expended a fortune, risked everything, endured great pain, subjected their waiting families to a nightmare, and perhaps lost colleagues or friends in a grisly death. What is it all for? Is it worth it? What are they truly seeking?

When reading books like this, one might assume that most climbers do it for the beauty of the scenery or the thrill of the surroundings. However, it is evident from this book and others that these aspects take a back seat. Instead, it is a competition to be the best in the field and can consume a person's life. Climbing mountains is what they dream about and ultimately what they live for. It can become an obsession in the same way that sport, work, or any other hobby can. That is when it becomes dangerous and purposeless.

God created each of us with a void that only He can fill. Man will attempt to deny this and seek pleasure and fulfillment in many places other than God. These things then become idols. They must be kept in their proper place, and we need to maintain a proper perspective.

This is a great book. The strong language is not so great, hence the less than perfect rating. There is no sexual content and no violence. There are disturbing scenes of death.

Note to self: take climbing Everest off bucket list.

This simple note holds a world of significance. Climbing Everest is an extremely challenging and dangerous endeavor.

The harsh weather conditions, the thin air, and the treacherous terrain make it a feat that only a few dare to attempt.

Many have lost their lives in the pursuit of reaching the summit.

Realizing this, I have come to the conclusion that it is not a goal worth pursuing at the expense of my safety and well-being.

There are many other wonderful and fulfilling experiences that I can have without putting myself in such extreme danger.

I will focus on those and create a new bucket list that is both achievable and enjoyable.

After all, life is about living to the fullest, not about taking unnecessary risks.

I began this year with an outstanding book. Let me tell you that you don't have to have an interest in mountain climbing to relish this true account of the 1996 disaster on Mount Everest, penned by someone who was actually there. It's an astonishing story that will leave you still pondering the question "why does man climb mountains". Someone once said "because they are there", but that truly isn't the answer. I've included a quote by a renowned mountaineer at the conclusion of this review, which partly elucidates that mystery.

The author, who is a climber himself, was a member of the 1996 team, led by an expert who had reached the summit of Everest several times and was regarded as one of the finest guides available. The group included experienced Sherpas, but the majority of the team had diverse climbing skills, which would turn out to be a problem.

The guide had very strict regulations regarding the climb. The team moved slowly upwards, taking two weeks to adapt to the decreasing oxygen in the air as they ascended. Oxygen tanks were a crucial piece of equipment on the climb, as hypoxia was the bane of thin air and could lead to fatal complications. Several members of the team had to turn back early as they physically couldn't complete the upward journey, and the guide set a strict "turn around" time, which was the moment when everyone should turn back, even if they were in sight of the summit.

On the last day, as they approached the summit, things started to go awry, very wrong. And to compound matters even further, a violent storm overtook them, and it became "every man and woman for themselves". It was the worst situation that could befall anyone on Everest, and the consequences were tragic.

I could write numerous pages about this captivating book, but my advice is... read it. You won't regret it.

Here is the partial explanation of why Everest is such a draw for those who climb: There are men for whom the unattainable has a particular allure. Usually, they are not experts; their ambitions and fantasies are powerful enough to push aside the doubts that more cautious men might have. Determination and faith are their strongest weapons. At best, such men are considered eccentric; at worst, mad. Everest has attracted its share of men like this.......three things they all had in common: faith in themselves, great determination, and endurance.

An interesting book indeed. Before reading it, I was not very knowledgeable about the accident. In fact, I had only heard of it vaguely. To be honest, I really don't understand the excitement of climbing such high peaks, especially considering that the number of fatalities is not small. Or at least the additional danger that climbers may expose themselves to. However, it's okay. Don't worry. They will pay someone to carry all of their stuff! Rtc.

It seems that climbing these peaks is not an easy task. The risks involved are significant, and yet, there are still people who are willing to take on this challenge. Maybe it's the sense of adventure, the desire to push oneself to the limit, or the beauty and majesty of the mountains that attract them. But whatever the reason, it's important to remember that climbing is not without its dangers.

Paying someone to carry their junk may seem like an easy way out for some climbers, but it also raises questions about the ethics and fairness of the situation. Are these porters being exploited? Are they being paid a fair wage for the work they do? These are all important considerations that we need to take into account when thinking about the world of mountaineering.

I haven't left my house in 37 days, and I think it's finally getting to me. After reading this, I immediately thought, ‘climbing Everest sounds like fun.’

It's official - I've gone insane.

I feel beyond guilty for finding so much fascination with what was the most horrific moment in Krakauer's life. I am a terrible human, but I honestly couldn't put this down.

There is just something about Krakauer's writing that makes me think his grocery lists are equally alluring. Knowing how personal this was for him made this book that much more captivating for me. I loved the way it's formatted, the presentation of the facts, and the coherence of the timeline and his commentary. Everything about this invites the reader in an informative and highly emotional way.

I truly can't imagine what I would have done or how I would currently feel if I was in his shoes. But I am so grateful that he felt the desire to share and document this story. It's so tragic and, yet, so fascinating.

↠ 4.5 stars

\\n  \\"Everest has always been a magnet for kooks, publicity seekers, hopeless romantics and others with a shaky hold on reality.\\"\\n


Everyone has heard of the mighty Mount Everest. But the question of whether anyone can reach its summit is a complex one. It depends on who you ask and how much you're willing to pay. One of those who managed to reach the summit is Jon Krakauer, a journalist-mountaineer. In April 1996, he was sent to the Mountain of Mountains to write for Outside Magazine. Little did he know that he would witness a storm that would lead to one of the biggest disasters in the history of Everest climbing.





I've been a fan of Jon Krakauer's work ever since I came across Into the Wild several years ago. That story has been dear and important to me ever since. Recently, I found an abandoned copy of Into Thin Air among a stack of Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey books on a hostel bookshelf. I knew it was waiting for me. So I picked it up and didn't put it down until I had devoured every word.


I'm not a climber myself and have limited knowledge of the lifestyle of mountain climbers. But Into Thin Air taught me a lot. Krakauer made it possible for me to understand the thrill of reaching a summit, the satisfaction of taking responsibility for oneself, making decisions, and dealing with the consequences. There's also a social aspect to climbing:


\\n  \\"And climbing provided a sense of community as well. To become a climber was to join a self-contained, rabidly idealistic society, largely unnoticed and surprisingly uncorrupted by the world at large.\\"\\n


However, the deal with Mount Everest is that there's a significant commercial component to it, which has made it a somewhat elitist experience. For a whopping $50,000 to $100,000, even people with limited knowledge are promised a great time climbing towards their potential death. You get sherpas to cook for you, secure the ropes, and guides to make the important decisions. Krakauer's group also consisted of a few questionable individuals who were there to boost their egos or gain media attention. In a recent interview, he stated:


\\n  \\"Everest is not real climbing. It’s rich people climbing. It’s a trophy on the wall, and they’re done. When I say I wish I’d never gone, I really mean that.\\"\\n


Considering the tragedy he involuntarily became part of, you can't blame him. This book tells the story of how the mountain claimed five lives and left many more to deal with the trauma and injury. It's superbly written. Krakauer has a way of respecting the people he writes about, even when their actions were highly questionable. He doesn't shy away from admitting his own mistakes either. Through his words, you can tell that the event left a lasting impact on him. The biggest insight is that there wasn't one single error, but rather an accumulation of small things that led to what happened. This doesn't make the event any less tragic, and I can understand how disturbing and unsettling it must have been to cope with what people call survivor's guilt. This story is empathic, emotional, and I would highly recommend this book.

From the very first experience on Mt. McKinley, Krakauer presents a vivid picture that enables the reader to truly understand just how idiosyncratic and even crazed many of those who dare to climb the world's highest peaks can be.

Do you ever find yourself fantasizing about roping yourself up and placing your life in the hands of a line of fellow climbers? Can you even begin to contemplate the degenerative effects that attempting to exist in an environment a staggering 5 miles above sea level will have on your body?

This begs the question: is climbing these lofty peaks a team sport or simply an opportunity for individual triumph? Krakauer, with his masterful writing, expertly puts you right in the scene, making it all feel incredibly real.

You can almost feel the cold wind biting at your face, the thin air making it difficult to breathe, and the sense of both fear and excitement that comes with such a perilous adventure. His words draw you in and make you question your own assumptions about what it means to take on such a challenge.

Whether you are an avid climber or simply someone with a passing interest in the subject, Krakauer's account is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Until 2014, one of the trail markers for mountaineers climbing Everest on the main Northeast ridge route was "Green Boots".

This was the corpse of a man wearing green climbing boots. Yes, a dead man had become an Everest landmark. People passed by him and even photographed him.

Most likely, it was the body of Head Constable Tsewang Paljor of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. He was part of an expedition that took place during the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, which is the main topic of Krakauer's book.

Although the corpse is no longer in that specific place, Mr. Paljor's body is presumably still somewhere on the mountain. However, no one can say for sure. What is certain, though, is that the cynicism and sensationalism that "Green Boots'" treatment illustrates is very telling.

The impulses behind it are an underlying theme of "Into Thin Air".

American journalist and mountaineer Jon Krakauer was part of an expedition that aimed to summit Mount Everest in May 1996, on the same day as several other groups of climbers.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, wrong decisions, and an upcoming storm, eight mountaineers died, and several others were severely injured and almost froze to death.

While Krakauer's account of the unfolding tragedy is certainly intriguing, the psychological dimension is what fascinated me.

Why do people decide to summit Everest, and what are the moral implications? Krakauer talks about motivational factors such as a love of nature and a longing for adventure, but also vanity, the impulse to challenge oneself, and the wish to stand out.

All these characteristics are represented by members of the expeditions. Some mountaineers are unable or unwilling to question their own abilities, thus threatening the lives of other climbers and the sherpas.

The sherpas often risk everything for their rich clients in order to be able to feed their families. (After an ice avalanche killed 16 sherpas in 2014, the sherpas went on strike to push for better working conditions.)

The commercialization of Everest is an important topic in the book. The heads of the expeditions aim to guide as many participants to the summit as possible.

They assume that especially Krakauer, the reporter, and Sandy Pittmann, the society girl, will generate publicity when they get home to tell their stories.

Commercial expeditions are a competitive business, and clients who pay tens of thousands of dollars to take on Everest are very motivated to make it to the top.

This tunnel vision is potentially deadly for everyone involved. On the highest mountain in the world, the lack of humility can be a death sentence.

Since Krakauer wrote this book (it was published in 1997), these tendencies have become more and more extreme. John Oliver did a fantastic episode entitled "Everest" which talks about the current state of affairs.

More and more inexperienced climbers join commercial expeditions, and now there is also a serious problem with garbage and feces in the Himalaya.

The sherpas' job becomes more and more dangerous, which is not exactly widely discussed as the rich white dilettantes want to tell heroic stories about their fearless ascent to the summit while showing numerous selfies.

Oliver offers an alternative that is safer for everybody: https://www.thetopofmounteverest.com

And still, I understand the urge to explore, to see and experience new environments and extreme situations, to travel to remote, beautiful, dangerous places, to try and find out how far you can go.

Parts of Krakauer's book reminded me of T.C. Boyle's novel Water Music about Scottish explorer Mungo Park who was obsessed with his wish to explore West Africa - and paid a high price.

In a way, Krakauer and Boyle talk about rather universal human aspirations, about the Faustian impulse to know and conquer - this disruptive impulse can be beautiful or terrible.

We've discussed the book on the podcast, and you can listen to it here (in German).