Summary: Chapter 15 Flashcards
Who reaches the summit around 1:25 pm on May 10, 1996?
Neal Beidleman with his client, Martin Adams
What is Neal Beidleman’s profession?
Aerospace engineer
Who are the three guides mentioned in the chapter?
- Scott Fischer
- Anatoli Boukreev
- Neal Beidleman
What critical decision do the guides need to make before their clients reach the summit?
Tell their clients to come down
At what time does Sandy Pittman arrive at the summit?
2:10 pm
What was Scott Fischer’s condition on May 9?
He began to feel ill and was exhausted
What health issue did Fischer decline to disclose to his clients?
A cyst in his liver
What major problem arises among the group during the ascent?
Disorganization and differing ability levels
What happens to Yasuko Namba during the ascent?
She suffers from severe altitude sickness
Fill in the blank: The culture of _______ is a serious obstacle to successful mountaineering.
machismo
What critical decision does Neal Beidleman make regarding Yasuko Namba?
He begins dragging her down toward Camp Four
What time is it when Beidleman, Groom, and the clients are staggering around in the storm?
6:45 pm
What does Stuart Hutchinson do to help signal the position of Camp Four?
Bangs pots and pans
What does Beidleman decide to do when he realizes it’s impossible to bring everyone back together?
Take a few people back and leave the others behind
What controversial decision did Anatoli Boukreev make earlier in the day on May 10?
He climbed far ahead of his clients instead of helping them
What does Boukreev claim about his decision to return to Camp Four?
He thought he’d be more useful resting to help later
How does Boukreev exhibit bravery later in the evening of May 10?
He ventures out into the storm alone to find lost clients
What happens to Beck Weathers while Boukreev is helping other clients?
He is pushed into the darkness by heavy winds
True or False: Boukreev’s actions on the evening of May 10 can be viewed as both heroic and negligent.
True
What does Krakauer suggest about group expeditions to Everest?
They are inherently prone to problems
Fill in the blank: The heavy storm arrives, causing visibility to be less than _______ feet.
twenty
Who does Boukreev successfully bring back to Camp Four?
Sandy Pittman
Boukreev manages to evacuate clients one-by-one.
Who is not rescued by Boukreev?
Yasuko Namba
Boukreev realizes that Namba is still out there after bringing back Pittman.
How does Boukreev feel about not rescuing Namba?
He cries for nearly an hour
Boukreev blames himself for failing to rescue Namba.
What is Krakauer’s opinion of Boukreev despite his criticisms?
He respects Boukreev immensely
Krakauer recognizes Boukreev’s sincere motivation to help his clients.
What qualities do Krakauer and Boukreev share?
- Quiet
- Ruggedly individualistic
- Fast-paced
- Prone to guilt
Krakauer feels he has more in common with Boukreev than with other climbers.
