Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer’s gripping account of an ill-fated attempt to climb Mount Everest in…

Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer’s gripping account of an
ill-fated attempt to climb Mount Everest in which six climbers died, provides
testimony to the risks of extreme mountain climbing. Thirteen days after the
tragedy, David Breashears successfully led a film crew to the summit. Their
footage can be seen in the spectacular IMAX film, Everest.

Accounts of Mount Everest expeditions provide insights into
project risk management. First, most climbers spend more than three weeks
acclimating their bodies to high-altitude conditions. Native Sherpas are used
extensively to carry supplies and set up
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Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer’s gripping account of an
ill-fated attempt to climb Mount Everest in which six climbers died, provides
testimony to the risks of extreme mountain climbing. Thirteen days after the
tragedy, David Breashears successfully led a film crew to the summit. Their
footage can be seen in the spectacular IMAX film, Everest.

Accounts of Mount Everest expeditions provide insights into
project risk management. First, most climbers spend more than three weeks
acclimating their bodies to high-altitude conditions. Native Sherpas are used
extensively to carry supplies and set up each of the four base camps that will
be used during the final stages of the climb. To reduce the impact of hypoxia,
lightheadness, and disorientation caused by shortage of oxygen, most climbers
use oxygen masks and bottles during the final ascent. If lucky enough not to be
one of the first expeditions of the season, the path to the summit should be
staked out and roped by previous climbers. Climbing guides receive last-minute
weather reports by radio to confirm whether the weather conditions warrant the
risk. Finally, for added insurance, most climbers join their Sherpas in an
elaborate puja ritual intended to summon the divine support of the gods before
beginning their ascent.

All of these efforts pale next to the sheer physical and
mental rigors of making the final climb from base camp IV to the summit. This
is what climbers refer to as the “death zone” because beyond 26,000 feet the
mind and body begin to quickly deteriorate despite supplemental oxygen. Under
fair conditions it takes around 18 hours to make the round-trip to the top and
back to the base camp. Climbers leave as early as 1:00 A.M. in order to make it
back before night falls and total exhaustion sets in.

The greatest danger in climbing Mount Everest is not
reaching the summit but making it back to the base camp. One out of every five
climbers who make it to the summit dies during their descent. The key is
establishing a contingency plan in case the climbers encounter hard going or
the weather changes. Guides establish a predetermined turnaround time (i.e.,
2:00 P.M.) to ensure a safe return no matter how close the

climbers are to the summit. Accepting the time takes
tremendous discipline. One who was caught up by time was solo climber Goran
Krupp. He turned back 1,000 feet from the top after bicycling 8,000 miles from
Stockholm to Katmandu!

Many lives have been lost by failing to adhere to the
turnback time and pushing forward to the summit. As one climber put it, “With
enough determination, any bloody idiot can get up the hill. The trick is to get
back down alive.”

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