Summit: 1:12 p.m., May 10, 1996 - 29,028 Feet Summary and Analysis

Krakauer has brought an Outside magazine flag and some other small souvenirs he had intended to pose with at the summit, but concerned about his low oxygen, he does not take them out. He takes some quick pictures of Harris and Boukreev at the summit and starts down, passing Beidleman and another climber named Martin Adams on their way up. He notices the clouds forming below, but is unaware of any danger. Krakauer makes his way to the top of the Hillary Step, where he must wait for the train of ascending climbers to pass.

Harris arrives behind him and asks him to clear the ice from his oxygen equipment. Krakauer asks Harris to turn down his tank to save oxygen while he waits. This is the event described earlier in...