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Turbine Illnesses In Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air

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Turbine Illnesses In Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air
In his book, Into Thin Air, Krakauer describes climbing to the summit of Mount Everest as a 'breathtaking experience'. The thinning of oxygen is just one of the many perilous events that unfolds while the climbing of this monster of a mountain. There are illnesses that one can get while descending too high too quickly, and limbs to be lost to the freezing cold. Worse, one could inevitably come to their own death by falling into a crevasse or for loss of air supply. There is no doubt that climbing to such a feat would be nearly physically impossible, unless given the proper time and training. While on the expedition, Hall claims that Krakauer and his group are exceptionally more fit than most of the people he had guided up the mountain before. …show more content…
Similarly, HAPE occurs from an increasing of altitude too quickly, and causes liquid to fill in the lungs, the only cure is to quickly go back down. One example of altitude illness is "cerebral edema-swelling of the brain brought on by high altitude..." (36). These illnesses are not easily reversible and may well cause the climbers death. Many of the hardships faced while climbing Mount Everest have the very severe possibility of death. While one is feeling particularly deprived of oxygen, they may not tie a rope correctly, and have the proper footing. They may misjudge another’s position or oxygen supply and very easily cause their own death or another’s. Its critical while on the mountain to make sure one can trust the people around themselves to use their judgement, as well as using their own before making any hard decisions. If one makes a dangerous decision regarding the health or standing of another’s life, they may endanger the one responsible as payback or resort to being more careless. When desperate to survive the climbers make unethical decisions, although this could be the lack of oxygen just affecting their judgement. Nevertheless, there is no excuse for the climbers to purposely endanger others when it is already dangerous

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