Chapter XV The Avalanche Summary and Analysis

Schatz comes to help the men into the upper Camp IV at the top of the ice slope at the edge of the Sickle glacier. Couzy is waiting in camp. Herzg writes that upon reaching the camp, his will to live returns out of the joy he feels seeing his fellow climbers and from the appreciation they have for his reaching the summit. At Schatz's suggestion, they all climb down to the more protected location of the lower Camp IV.

Herzog begins to worry about the conditions. It is warmer than usual, which makes the snow unstable and more susceptible to avalanche. The first priority is to get lower down the mountain to Camp II. He ropes himself to two Sherpas, Aila and Sarki, and with the others begins to make his way as quickly...