Name______Period_____

Into Thin Air Study Guide ~:~:~:~:~:~BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS!!!

Please answer each of the following questions thoroughly. Although complete sentences are not a requirement, be sure to answer each question for those items seeing multiple responses.

  1. What was Krakauer’s main concern as he began his descent?
  1. Who are Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay?
  1. Who is to be the leader of Krakauer’s expedition?
  1. What are the names of the other climbers on this team?
  1. What are Sherpas?
  1. What makes Sherpas so valuable?
  1. What is “acclimatization?” Why is it so important?
  1. Who is Scott Fischer? Who are the members of his team?
  1. Name at least four symptoms of altitude sickness as described by

Krakauer or from your research.

  1. What is the area called on a mountain when the altitude extends beyond

25,000 feet?

  1. What is a “crampon?” How are they useful in mountaineering?
  1. How is Sandy Pittman different from other climbers?
  1. Why does Krakauer begin to feel guilty about being a journalist on this expedition?
  1. According to Weathers, what effect does Krakauer (a reporter)have on Rob Hall as the guide?
  1. Define “short-roping” and explain how it fits into the events of the summit attempt.
  1. In addition to a lack of oxygen, what problem does Krakauer find at the Hillary Step after starting down from the summit?
  1. Why is Rob Hall disappointed when he passes Krakauer at the Hillary Step?
  1. What condition is Beck Weathers in when Krakauer finds him on the way down? Why is he just standing still?
  1. What happens to Krakauer’s mental state after going without

supplemental oxygen for some time? What “symptoms” does he report?

  1. What is the significance of 2:00?
  1. Who was the last to reach the summit at 4:00?
  1. What is the ultimate fate of Doug Hansen and Andy Harris?
  1. Who is the last person to ever talk to Rob Hall?
  1. What decision do Lhakpa Sherpa and Stuart Hutchinson make about Beck

Weathers and Yasuko Nambu?

  1. What about Beck and Yasuko’s condition makes their decision so hard?
  1. Which member of the Adventure Consultants team almost literally “rises from the dead?”
  1. How Beck Weathers is ultimately removed from the mountain?
  1. List the Critical Errors Made by the teams that contributed to this disaster.
  1. Who would you say set off the chain of events that ultimately caused this situation to become irreversible? (Rob, Scott, Jon, Anatoli, Sandy, Yasuko, Lopsang, Beck, Andy [Harold], Ang Dorje, or someone not mentioned)