Major Characters Flashcards
Who is Jon Krakauer?
Author and narrator of Into Thin Air, experienced mountaineer and journalist
What is Krakauer’s opinion on organized group expeditions?
He dislikes them, finding them tedious and opposed to individualistic nature of mountaineering
What significant event happens on May 10 in Into Thin Air?
Krakauer climbs to the summit of Mount Everest and survives a snowstorm
What feelings does Krakauer grapple with after the expedition?
Survivor’s guilt and contradictory feelings about the expedition
Who is Rob Hall?
New Zealand-based mountaineer and leader of the expedition that takes Krakauer to Everest
What was Rob Hall known for?
Becoming the first person to climb the highest mountain on each continent and running a successful mountaineering tourist company
What happens to Rob Hall on May 10, 1996?
He is killed by a snowstorm during the expedition
Who is Anatoli Boukreev?
Russian climbing guide working for Scott Fischer, criticized for his distant relationship with clients
What controversy surrounds Boukreev’s actions?
Criticism for neglecting clients, but credited for bravery during the storm
Who is Andy Harris?
Young guide for Rob Hall, becomes a good friend to Krakauer
What tragic fate befalls Andy Harris?
He runs low on oxygen, goes in the wrong direction, and freezes to death
Who is Scott Fischer?
Talented mountaineer and charismatic leader of an expedition who dies on May 10
What leads to Scott Fischer’s demise?
Severe fatigue and inability to return to his tent during the storm
Who is Beck Weathers?
Pathologist and inexperienced climber on Hall’s expedition who nearly dies but survives
What happens to Beck Weathers during the expedition?
He is left out in the cold and later has to have five fingers amputated
Who is Doug Hansen?
Postal publisher and climber on Hall’s expedition who dies in the snowstorm
What was Doug Hansen’s motivation for climbing Everest?
He received financial help from a local school to fund his climb
Who is Stuart Hutchinson?
Cardiologist on Hall’s expedition who becomes the de facto leader after May 10
What is Yasuko Namba’s fate during the expedition?
She becomes too exhausted to return and freezes to death in the snowstorm
Who is Makalu Gau?
Leader of the Taiwanese team, enthusiastic but inexperienced mountaineer
What manipulation does Deshun Deysel experience?
She is misled into thinking she would ascend Everest, but never receives a climbing permit
Who is Sandy Hill Pittman?
Celebrity client on Scott Fischer’s expedition, spoiled but liked by teammates
What happens to Sandy Hill Pittman during the storm?
She gets caught in a snowstorm but is rescued by Anatoli Boukreev
What notable achievement did Rob Hall accomplish?
He became one of the first people to climb the highest mountain in each of the seven continents
What type of company did Rob Hall establish?
A successful mountaineering tourist company called The Adventure Consultants
What is Rob Hall known for in his expeditions?
Exercising extreme caution while taking high-paying clients up and down Mount Everest
How is Rob Hall characterized as a guide?
As a publicity-monger but also a careful and cautious guide
What tragic event occurred on May 10, 1996?
A snowstorm hit Rob Hall’s expedition, killing Hall and several of his clients
Fill in the blank: Rob Hall is known as a _______ in the mountaineering community.
[publicity-monger]
True or False: Rob Hall was considered an inexperienced climber.
False
Who is the Russian climbing guide mentioned in Into Thin Air?
Boukreev
Boukreev worked for Scott Fischer.
What criticism does Krakauer have regarding Boukreev’s relationship with his clients?
Boukreev has a bad habit of climbing ahead and leaving clients to fend for themselves.
What event does Krakauer imply Boukreev’s behavior contributed to?
Clients blundering into a snowstorm on the night of May 10.
What does Krakauer credit Boukreev with during the storm?
Incredible bravery for venturing out into the storm.
What is the general perception of Boukreev’s behavior in the mountaineering community?
Controversial; some see him as neglectful, others as instrumental in saving lives.
True or False: Krakauer believes Boukreev’s actions endangered clients.
True
Fill in the blank: Boukreev’s refusal to stay close behind led clients to ________.
blunder into a snowstorm.
What do some people argue about Boukreev’s climbing pace?
That it helped conserve energy and saved clients’ lives.
Who is Andy Harris?
A young, very likeable guide who works for Rob Hall
What is significant about Andy Harris’s experience with Mount Everest?
He has never been to Mount Everest before the expedition with Jon Krakauer
How does Andy Harris perform as a guide?
He proves himself to be an excellent guide and takes good care of his clients
What tragic event occurs to Andy Harris on May 10?
He begins to run dangerously low on supplemental oxygen and eventually freezes to death
What happens to Andy Harris when he runs low on oxygen?
He becomes delirious and blunders off in the wrong direction
What is unclear about the last moments of Andy Harris’s life?
It’s not entirely clear who the last person to see him alive was
Who cannot decide whether they ran into Andy Harris or another mountaineer?
Jon Krakauer
Who is Scott Fischer?
A talented, charismatic mountaineer who dies in the May 10 Everest disaster.
Known as the “bad boy” of the mountain climbing world.
What is Scott Fischer’s reputation in the mountaineering community?
Highly respected despite being known as the ‘bad boy’ of the mountain climbing world.
His reputation is often contrasted with that of Rob Hall.
What business does Scott Fischer run?
A successful mountain tourism business.
This indicates his expertise and influence in the mountaineering industry.
What issues did Scott Fischer face during his Everest expedition in 1996?
He began to suffer from serious fatigue, partly due to ineffective guidance from Anatoli Boukreev.
This fatigue ultimately impacted his ability to summit and return safely.
What happened to Scott Fischer on the afternoon of May 10, 1996?
He became delirious due to fatigue and was unable to return to his tent amidst a storm.
This led to his tragic freezing to death.
Fill in the blank: Scott Fischer dies in the May 10 ______ disaster.
Everest
True or False: Scott Fischer was known for his cautious approach to mountain climbing.
False
Who is Beck Weathers?
Pathologist who joins Rob Hall’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996
What was Beck Weathers’ experience level on the expedition?
One of the most inexperienced people on the expedition
What serious problem did Weathers face on May 10?
He was having serious problems with his eyesight
What happened to Weathers during the night of May 10?
He was left out in the cold and nearly died
How did Weathers manage to return to his teammates?
He made a miraculous recovery and found the energy to walk back
What medical procedure did Weathers undergo after reaching the hospital?
Doctors amputated five of his fingers
How did Jon Krakauer feel about his role in Weathers’ misfortune?
He felt exceptionally guilty and blamed himself for ‘abandoning’ Weathers
Who is Doug Hansen?
Postal publisher who joins Rob Hall’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996
Hansen is notable for his rapport with Jon Krakauer.
What background does Doug Hansen come from?
Lower-middle-class background
His background is a factor in his determination to succeed on the expedition.
How did Doug Hansen fund his Everest climb?
Through a fundraiser organized by a local school
Unlike many climbers, he could not afford the climb on his own.
What happened to Doug Hansen in 1995?
He went on an expedition with Rob Hall but had to turn back early
This experience fueled his determination to succeed in 1996.
What was Doug Hansen’s goal for the 1996 expedition?
To reach the summit without turning back
His previous experience influenced this determination.
What ultimately happened to Doug Hansen during the climb?
He froze to death after getting caught in a deadly snowstorm
This occurred after he and Hall climbed too late.
True or False: Doug Hansen was one of the most experienced climbers on the expedition.
False
He was not as experienced as many other climbers.
Fill in the blank: Doug Hansen’s enthusiasm backfired when he and Hall climbed to the summit too _______.
late
This timing contributed to the tragic outcome.
Who is Stuart Hutchinson?
A cardiologist who joined Rob Hall’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996
What role did Stuart Hutchinson take during the expedition?
He became the de facto leader of the group after the events of May 10
Why did Stuart Hutchinson become the leader of the group?
Because he is used to keeping a clear head in a crisis as a cardiologist
What was Stuart Hutchinson’s level of experience in climbing?
He was an inexperienced climber
What did Stuart Hutchinson do after the events of May 10?
He led the remaining members of the group down the mountain and back to safety
Fill in the blank: Stuart Hutchinson joined Rob Hall’s expedition to _______ in 1996.
Mount Everest
True or False: Stuart Hutchinson was an experienced climber before the expedition.
False
Who is Yasuko Namba?
Japanese personnel director who joined Rob Hall’s expedition to Mount Everest in 1996
What was Yasuko Namba’s experience level on the expedition?
One of the most inexperienced people on the expedition
On what date did Yasuko Namba become too exhausted to return to the tent?
May 10
What ultimately happened to Yasuko Namba during the expedition?
She froze to death in a snowstorm
Why was Yasuko Namba’s death particularly tragic for Jon Krakauer?
She stumbled to within a few hundred feet of Krakauer’s tent
Fill in the blank: Yasuko Namba was part of Rob Hall’s expedition to _______ in 1996.
Mount Everest
True or False: Yasuko Namba was an experienced climber on the 1996 Everest expedition.
False
Who is the leader of the Taiwanese team?
Makalu Gau
Makalu Gau is described as enthusiastic but not extraordinarily skilled in mountaineering.
What is the perception of Makalu Gau’s mountaineering skills?
He is enthusiastic but not tremendously talented.
This suggests that while he has passion, he may lack the necessary skills for high-level mountaineering.
What accident did Makalu Gau experience prior to the Everest expedition?
A dangerous accident on the slopes of Mount McKinley.
This incident raises concerns about his capabilities as a leader during the Everest expedition.
What are the expectations for Makalu Gau’s team during the Everest expedition?
Everyone is expecting his team to experience problems.
This indicates a lack of confidence in Gau’s leadership and the team’s preparedness.
Who is Deshun Deysel?
A Black South African woman recruited by Ian Woodall for the South African Everest expedition.
Deysel’s participation highlights issues of representation and manipulation in high-altitude climbing.
What does Krakauer suggest about Ian Woodall’s intentions regarding Deysel?
Krakauer suggests that Woodall manipulates Deysel into thinking she might ascend Everest with the team, despite his true intentions.
This implies an ethical concern regarding Woodall’s treatment of Deysel.
What critical action did Woodall fail to take for Deshun Deysel?
He never got a climbing permit for her.
This indicates that Deysel was never genuinely intended to participate in the expedition.
Who is Sandy Hill Pittman?
Wife of Bob Pittman and well-known 1980s socialite
What role does Sandy Hill Pittman have on Scott Fischer’s expedition?
She is a ‘celebrity client’
What challenges does Sandy Hill Pittman face during the expedition?
She is spoiled and has to hire Sherpas to carry her extra baggage and food
How is Sandy Hill Pittman perceived by her teammates?
They see her as a likeable, generous woman
Who rescues Sandy Hill Pittman during the snowstorm?
Anatoli Boukreev
