Into Thin Air Chapter 15-21 (Colonization Theory)

By Chapter 15 of Jon Krakauer's “Into Thin Air” the various climbing teams have begun their descent. There has already been tragedy in the story on the way to the summit, but far from being an afterthought, it is on the trip back down that disaster really sets in. By now we have been introduced to a diverse cast of characters, and in many cases what we know will serve to set the stage for the story of their demise. With a few exceptions however there is one group of climbers, though ever present, appears in Krakauer's recounting under a veil as though they were just another element, along with wind and ice and cold, that one encounters on the face of Everest, the native Sherpa guides.

Krakauer did careful research to, for example, weave accounts of other climbers into a coherent narrative including both the events he personally experienced and those that he wasn't there for. In nearly every instance he includes the names of all the non-native members of the various expeditions including those he did not meet himself. Except for a few individuals he was familiar with such as Lopsang Jangbu and Ang Dorje however, most of the guides are referred to anonymously as simply another Sherpa.

To be fair Krakauer is only following well worn Western conventions here, and any attempt he might make at identifying the various guides involved and exploring their personal histories as he did for the American, European and Japanese climbers would be hampered by those same conventions that throw up barriers, that encourage any particular individual to be thought of as just one of the Sherpas. Among the many criticisms he has about culture and business surrounding the desire to summit Everest Krakauer does not neglect the impact on the local community. He includes the book with a letter from a Sherpa orphan who had both parents die while guiding Everest expeditions. He quotes from this letter:

“My ancestors arrived in the Solo Khumbu region fleeing persecution in the lowlands. They found sanctuary in the shadow of “Sagarmathaji”, “mother goddess of the earth”. In return they were expected to protect that mother goddess' sanctuary from outsiders.

“But they went the other way. They helped outsiders find their way into the sanctuary and violate every limb of her body by standing on top of her, crowing in victory, and dirtying and polluting her bosom.”

(The journey is over!!!!!!)