This is the true story of a 24-hour period on Everest when members of three separate expeditions were caught in a storm & faced a battle against hurricane-force winds exposure & the effects of altitude which ended the worst single-season death toll in the peaks history. In March 1996 Outside" magazine sent veteran journalist & seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall & the other leaders by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauers book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure & an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles " Into Thin Air" clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountain progresses Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs & perils of other Everest trips throughout history. The authors own anguish over what happened on the mountain is palpable as he leads readers to ponder timeless questions."