Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer is the author of the book, and one of the eight clients of Rob Hall and his crew of mountain guides ascending to the summit if Everest in May, 1996. Krakauer is an avid climber and a journalist, and is accompanying the expedition on assignment from Outside Magazine to write about the growing business of commercial climbing. He lives in Seattle with his wife. He is 41 at the time of the climb.

Krakauer has always dreamed of climbing Everest, ever since childhood, and when the opportunity arises to join an expedition on assignment from the magazine, he jumps at the chance, despite his wife's misgivings about the danger. He is perhaps the strongest climber among Hall's clients, and is frequently out in front of the group as they climb. He is the first client to reach the summit, and the only one to do so before...