As a novice in the exciting world of mountaineering, I had overheard plenty of passionate conversations about a tragic Everest ascent and a few legendary mountaineers that the world lost that day. I was instantly intrigued.
And then one cold day while browsing through some books in a quaint little bookstore in Darjeeling that looked like it had been around since the Britishers had taken up residence there, i stumbled upon 'Into Thin Air'.
Now, there are books that you don't give a second thought to, some that make you think days, even months, after you've read them. And then there are some that you never forget your whole life. 'Into Thin Air' falls in the last category.
And then one cold day while browsing through some books in a quaint little bookstore in Darjeeling that looked like it had been around since the Britishers had taken up residence there, i stumbled upon 'Into Thin Air'.
Now, there are books that you don't give a second thought to, some that make you think days, even months, after you've read them. And then there are some that you never forget your whole life. 'Into Thin Air' falls in the last category.
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| Jon Krakauer |
Written in 1997, it is a first person account of the 10 May, 1996 Mount Everest ascent that took the lives of eight skilled climbers – the worst tragedy Everest has ever seen. Krakauer, a journalist and a mountaineer, wrote this book as an act of catharsis and his raw and honest description of the event is difficult to read without a lump in one's throat. It is, after all, heart-wrenching to be party to the death of so many great climbers especially after being a part of their lives, even if it is just on paper.
Krakauer’s record becomes even more moving because he was not only a part of the guided expedition but he also witnessed the death of some of his companions and even his team leader and mountaineering guide - the gregarious Rob Hall. Despite the fact that Krakauer’s memory of the final ascent was distorted by exhaustion and shock, he has tried to write as accurate a summary as possible by giving a day-to-day and even a minute-by-minute account of their treacherous climb on the unforgiving terrain of the snow-covered Himalayas at 29,028 feet. At that altitude though, time slows down dramatically!
This book easily slips into the slot of must-read books - for everyone. But for mountaineers it holds special reverence. It not only speaks their language but also uncovers the harsh realities of life - and death - in the isolation of 26,000 feet often referred to as ‘The Death Zone’. This account also mentions mountaineering greats like George Mallory, Andrew Irvine, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay.
To compress an exhilarating, life-altering experience of arriving at the apex of the planet into a few hundred pages is a daunting task. But Krakauer attempts to do that. And succeeds. He also raises important issues that need to be tackled: commercialization and competition in climbing where safety is indispensable. An apt read on the 60th anniversary of summiting the world's highest mountain. A must read at any time for adventurists.
Krakauer’s record becomes even more moving because he was not only a part of the guided expedition but he also witnessed the death of some of his companions and even his team leader and mountaineering guide - the gregarious Rob Hall. Despite the fact that Krakauer’s memory of the final ascent was distorted by exhaustion and shock, he has tried to write as accurate a summary as possible by giving a day-to-day and even a minute-by-minute account of their treacherous climb on the unforgiving terrain of the snow-covered Himalayas at 29,028 feet. At that altitude though, time slows down dramatically!
This book easily slips into the slot of must-read books - for everyone. But for mountaineers it holds special reverence. It not only speaks their language but also uncovers the harsh realities of life - and death - in the isolation of 26,000 feet often referred to as ‘The Death Zone’. This account also mentions mountaineering greats like George Mallory, Andrew Irvine, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Tenzing Norgay.
To compress an exhilarating, life-altering experience of arriving at the apex of the planet into a few hundred pages is a daunting task. But Krakauer attempts to do that. And succeeds. He also raises important issues that need to be tackled: commercialization and competition in climbing where safety is indispensable. An apt read on the 60th anniversary of summiting the world's highest mountain. A must read at any time for adventurists.
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