Where is Krakauer at the beginning of the book?

• A. He is at the summit of Everest with one foot in China and the other in Nepal.
• B. He is at Base Camp preparing the climb.
• C. He is in Kathmandu meeting with guides.
• D. He is at the South Col awaiting the team.

Answer: (A)

Opening with the climber on the summit sets the tone by placing you right at the moment of highest stakes. Krakauer is describing Everest from the top, emphasizing that the peak sits on the border between Nepal and China, so he’s effectively with one foot in Nepal and one in China. This image instantly conveys both the achievement and the danger inherent in high-altitude climbing, pulling the reader into the drama from the very first pages.

This framing also signals why the ascent matters: the narrative starts where the risk is most immediate, rather than at preparation or logistics. If the scene started at Base Camp, Kathmandu, or a high camp like the South Col, you’d miss that instantaneous tension and the palpable sense of being on the edge. Those other moments belong to earlier or later parts of the journey, while the opening at the summit anchors the memoir in the climber’s direct, life‑and‑death experience.