Into Thin Air First Thoughts

Cover of the novel being discussed

The novel I have chosen to read is Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Into Thin Air is a first-person storytelling of the massive storm that took place on Mt Everest in 1996. Jon Krakauer was part of the Adventure Consultants mountain expedition, which was led by a famous mountain climber, Rob Hall. Throughout the first section of the novel, Krakauer introduces all the expeditions that climb the mountain during 1996 while starting the climb towards the first base camp. This novel has many characters in the story, with four pages needed to show all the names.

In the Adventure Consultants climbing group, there are twenty-six members, including the leaders, Sherpas, nurses, base camp leaders, and clients climbing the mountain (Krakauer, XIX). Within these twenty-six, twelve of these are introduced with much detail and history of their mountain climbing careers. There are three other expeditions climbing at the same time with fifteen members introduced with much detail (Krakauer, XX). This number is much higher than the average novel; one example being Hamlet. Hamlet has twenty-one names introduced, but only twelve of them are introduced with depth (Shakespeare).

Having so many names introduced adds depth to the novel and allows the reader to know each character. The problem with this is that it can be hard to keep track of each individual and all the details. I found it to have a mixture between adding depth and making it hard to keep track of the characters.

In the second part of the novel, I think there will be many deaths.

The event that goes on is introduced by Krakauer as “an event that comes at a terrible cost” (XV). I think the Krakauer makes it to the top of the summit, but has difficulty making it back to the ground alive. After the event, Krakauer admits that he felt like something would go wrong but went to Everest anyway, and because of this witnessed something that will torment him for the rest of his life (XVI).

A storm that took place on Mt. Everest

I understand the desire to do something against your best judgement. The protagonist or the “hero” of every story goes into a battle even though every part of them is terrified. While many times it saves lives, usually it comes at a cost for the hero. In Spiderman, Peter Parker rushes into the clocktower to fight the villain and Gwen joins him (Webb). Parker tells her to leave but she convinces him to let her stay against his wishes (Webb). Gwen ends up falling and dying because she stayed, but Parker beats the villain (Webb). He is considered the hero, but there is a large cost for him (Webb).

Krakauer gives detailed descriptions of the surroundings of the mountains. He describes the view with so many details that you can visualize the mountain like a photo in your mind. An example from the novel is,

“The ink-black wedge of the summit pyramid stood out in stark relief, towering over the surrounding ridges. Thrust high into the jet stream, the mountain ripped a visual gash in the 120-knot hurricane, sending forth a plume of ice crystals that trailed to the east like a long silk scarf” (32).

The quote uses descriptive language as well as literary devices to give the reader a detailed image. The simile at the end of the quote compares the trail of ice to a silk scarf. This could be used to give the reader a better understanding of the sight since many have not seen a trail of ice in mountains. It could also be used to give the mindset of the author and how they relate ice to examples seen in their life.

The way Krakauer formed the text, it has a mixture of formal language while showing personality. He would describe the tools used in the climb with detail, then go on to give his opinion about these tools. Crampons were sharp spikes added to the top of boots described by Krakauer as,

Crampon Video Link

“A crampon is a grid of two-inch steel spikes that is clamped to the sole of each boot for purchase on ice. I was surprised and concerned to see Beck, Stuart, and Lou unpacking brand-new mountaineering boots that, by their own admission, had been scarcely worn. I wondered if they knew the chance they were taking by coming to Everest with untried footwear” (78).

Krakauer learned from experience that using unworn footwear can cause foot injuries when they have not been broken into. This is the reason he feels passionate about his teammates bringing footwear that is unworn.

Throughout the first section of the novel, I have learned more about myself as a reader. I try to connect personally to the main character when I read so I feel like I am hiking through Everest. I tend to re-read sections when I feel it is a major part of the novel so that I feel the words being spoken. Like Krakauer, I have wanted something so badly that it is impossible to get rid of the desire. In my situation, that desire usually fuels me to achieve these goals, which is like Krakauer’s experience. In the parts of the novel where it was boring, I would do my best to understand it and try to relate it back to the parts I connected with the most.

Into Thin Air is an adventure novel with any intense moments, heart-racing scenes, and the best part is that since I am only one-third of the way through the novel, I have many more moments to experience.

Works Cited

Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air. New York, Villard Books, 1997. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. London, Macmillan, 1963. Print.

Webb, Marc, director. The Amazing Spiderman 2. Marvel Entertainment, 2014. Film.