How Does Jon Krakauer Use Of Foreshadowing In Into Thin Air

This summer my family and I traveled to Colorado for my cousin’s wedding and to experience the mountains. While we were hiking I was able to go on my own and start to climb off the trails. I was able to climb high and get to see all the trees in their vibrant fall colors. The view was stunning compared to at eye-level view. When Jon Krakauer describes the amazing view from standing at the summit of Mount Everest, I was able to remember that moment from my off-trail adventure. On May 10, 1996, nineteen climbers were stuck high upon Mountain Everest in a nasty, bitter storm and 8 people died that night. Into Thin Air written by Jon Krakauer is a first-hand account of what went wrong that night and the events leading up to that fateful day.

In the first chapter of Into Thin Air, Krakauer opens with himself at the summit of Mount Everest and his childhood dream finally achieved, however, Krakauer states “As I began my descent I was extremely anxious but my concern had little to do with the weather: a check of the gauge on my oxygen tank had revealed that it was almost empty. I needed to get down fast” (9). When Krakauer began his descent he had spent less than five minutes at the world’s highest point. The reader is left wondering if he is able to get down the mountain alive and that suspense continues throughout the book. Jon Krakauer wrote Into Thin Air after the events occurred and he strategically places ironic quotes that builds the reader’s interest throughout. When Krakauer confesses his doubts to Hall, Hall responds, “‘It’s worked thirty-nine times so far, pal,’ Hall assured me with a crooked grin when I confessed my doubts. ‘And a few of the blokes who’ve summited with me were nearly as pathetic as you’” (74). However, this time it didn’t work, leaving Hall, some of his clients, and others dead with him. The reader is left with the overall question of what happened this year with better climbers that everything went

In the beginning of Into Thin Air, Krakauer spends time making sure the reader understands each of the character’s background in order to bring clarity to each character’s personality, climbing skills, and to manipulate the reader’s emotions when the storm hits. Within the first chapters Krakauer explains to the reader about how Rob Hall and his wife fell in love while on a climbing trip and they later got married. Including that this was the only year she wasn’t at Everest with him as his base camp manager because she was 7 months pregnant with their daughter. Krakauer recalls the radio messages made to and from Rob while he was stuck high on Mount Everest, “Before signing off, Hall told his wife, ‘I love you. Sleep well, my sweetheart. Please don’t worry too much.’ These would be the last words anyone would hear him speak” (247). The reader develops a personal connection with Rob Hall through Into Thin Air and when he dies the reader is saddened because of the surplus information supplied by Krakauer in those first few