Jon Krakauer
As I first started the book I assumed
it would be all facts, Jon Krakauer only seemed to be a journalist who had a
dream as a kid; although, as I got to know Jon while reading on I realized his
physical, mental, and emotional strength. Not only was he strong he was
determined, and caring. When he got married he put his climbing days to rest
but the pull of Everest was too much, as soon he was asked by the magazine Outside to join them in a climb he immediately
said yes and asked for the time to get prepared, “I asked Mark Bryant, the
editor of Outside, if he would
consider postponing the assignment for twelve months (which would give me time
to train properly for the physical demands of the expedition).” (27) Because Jon had stopped his climbing career
for so long he needed the time to get back in shape and prepare for the climb.
Taking this much time showed how strong-willed Jon was. Throughout the trip Jon
fought through a lot of a pain. After their first acclimatization trip to Camp One
he got a headache that sent him to his tent but he didn’t complain he just
tired to get over it. “I’d never experienced anything like it: crushing pain
between my temples- pain so severe that it was accompanied by shuddering waves
of nausea and made it impossible for me to speak in coherent sentences.” (85) Even
though Jon was in such pain he did not turn around and give up he fought
through and kept going the next day. Early in the book Jon seemed to have caught
some sort of cough and as he gets to higher altitude the cough only gets worse
he says that it feels as though someone is stabbing him the chest as he climbs
and takes deep breaths. Despite the searing pain Jon pushes on he has not only
spent money but his time and he is not willing to give up everything because of
this pain. There are many aspects to Jon’s strength and determination but he is
not only strong he is also caring. When he gets to the bottom he can only look
back and see pain when many others would see success because they got to the
top. “Safe now, the crushing strain of the preceding days lifted from my
shoulders, I cried for my lost companions, I cried because I was grateful to be
alive, I cried because I felt terrible for having survived while others had
died.”(279) He does not care that he made it to the top all he can think about
is his fallen teammates and how much he cared for them. Jon Krakauer is strong-willed
and determined when necessary but also caring and considerate.
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