I tried to shake myself from the pessimistic feelings that had recently developed since reading Shit Happens, but it had primed me for this weeks reading. I tried to see the clients as genuine enthusiasts and lovers of the sport of Mountaineering, yet my disdain persisted. I do not think these climbers deserved to be summiting on Mount Everest. Wishing to buy ones way up Everest with little previous high altitude experience is insulting. It is like purchasing a spot on a Super Bowl team as a starter, without even high school football experience. Inexperience brings with it many problems. First there is little to no cooperation, Secondly, an inexperienced climbers become a liability for others.

Krakauer writes that even though everyone was in decent shape, they had gotten in shape indoors on treadmills. They were not used to the rise and fall of elevation, nor were they adequately prepared for the cold. Furthermore, Krakauer claims that some climbers brought brand new, untested boots for the expedition. Even the most novice of day hikers know that boots and shoes should be broken in before wearing them on a long hike.

The brotherhood of the rope was almost non-existent with these impromptu climbers. Krakauer mentions that even after a month and close to the summit, they did not feel like a team. They were simply individuals climbing with their own agendas in mind. There was also a definite lack of participation and commandery between parties. The obvious antagonist Ian Woodal must not have been aware of the brotherhood of the rope. It is one thing to put the priorities of ones own expedition above another, but even in the face of tragedy Woodal had no intentions of assisting in the evacuation process. It is possible that he knew that he lacked the skill needed to be helpful, but he did have the resources that would have been beneficial (i.e. a simple radio). It is difficult to judge a persons character during such expeditions; each person must be responsible for their own. Yet, these expeditions are solely recreational. Climbing Mount Everest during the 1990’s was not such a necessity that summiting should have been more important than a life, or in this case 6 lives.

It was irritating that the preferred nomenclature for the party members was “clients”, as if they were customers at a bank. This expression serves to imply that there is supposed to be a distinction between a true mountaineer and what these thrill seekers were pretending to be. Although I am saddened by the deaths of the 1997 expedition, it is difficult to sympathize too much. Their lives were their own undoing. Still the guides share the blame

If a guide is willing to put novice adventurers at risk, then he/she has the responsibility of giving an accurate depiction of what lies ahead. Hall failed his company when he told others that he had “built a yellow brick road to the summit”. This is a call to wealthy, board thrill seekers, to let down their guard and except a deadly task with arrogance. Woodal also failed as a guide when he mislead his team into thinking they were marching with an adequately experienced climber. Woodal deceived his customers into thinking that he was a seasoned vet with combat experience, experienced Himalayan mountaineer, and an instructor at the Royal Military academy, this all ended up false. His inexperience and lack of discipline within his unit is the reason for his casualty. If he had kept his party under a more strict eye, his man would not have died alone on the summit.