Errors In Into Thin Air

Throughout the novel Into Thin Air, written by Jon Krakauer, the Everest climbers constantly faced with challenges that came along with their expedition; whether it be lack of oxygen, inability to keep pace with time schedule, weather conditions, etcetera. Every year, every expedition will be unpredictable meaning the outcome of people’s survival is based on the individual’s ability to react appropriately to danger. Since each expedition’s results are uncertain, the guides and clients will be forced to make decisions under pressure when an obstacle obstructs their path. Under pressure, the margin for error begins to decrease. Unfortunately, in circumstances like these, humans are bound to make a mistake since it is a part of human nature.

For example, Andy Harris’s death was a result of Krakauer’s and Mike Groom’s mistake of not noticing the obvious, that Harris was showing symptoms of hypoxia. On the South Summit, Harris was frantically saying that all the oxygen bottles were empty although they were in fact all full. When both Groom and Krakauer were unable to acknowledge Harris’s hypoxia, they continued with their descendent without assisting Harris which ultimately was the cause of his death. In the novel, Krakauer explains, “[...] Andy was acting irrationally and had plainly slipped well beyond routine hypoxia, but I was so mentally impeded myself that it simply didn’t register,” (Krakauer 245). Krakauer cannot be at fault for the death of Harris because the lack of oxygen impeded his ability to acknowledge the situation and its unusuality. It is plainly ignorant to expect Krakauer to absorb the circumstances regarding Harris and hold him accountable to save him, a guide who is held to high authority for his ability to climb mountains of high

Neal Beidleman was an example of someone who considered the options given to him and chose the one that helped as many people as possible. In chapter 15, “Beidleman tried to coax everyone to their feet [...] were to feeble to walk [...] if somebody from the group didn’t make it to the tents and summon a rescue party, they were all going to die,” (Krakauer 273). In this instance, Beidleman weighed his options which were to either stay put in the storm and have everyone be in danger or have those who are capable of walking go find camp and have a rescue party search for those left in the storm. With his decision making and quick thinking, Beidleman was responsible for multiple people being escorted and led to safety that laid within Camp