Chapters 3-4 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 3 is entitled "Doing the Deals." Before the planned Everest climb, Boukreev had already committed to help guide a team to climb Manaslu, another high Himalayan peak. He returned from the climb and went to Russia to negotiate the oxygen deal, which proved to be difficult. Meanwhile, Fischer went to Denmark to solicit a climbing client, Lene Gammelgaard, then on to Africa to lead a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

As the spring approached, the oxygen deal was still not reached and Boukreev began to worry. Henry Todd had already made an exclusive deal with Poisk to supply him with oxygen and Poisk would not agree to sell any to Boukreev. Karen Dickinson, the business manager for Mountain Madness, stepped in and made a deal with Todd to buy the oxygen through him at a price much higher than Poisk...