Climbing Expedition as a Military Mission

The year is 1950 and Herzog and his fellow French climbers, all young men, have recent experience and memories of serving in the military. It is not surprising, then, that the expedition is laid out like a military operation, and that Herzog employs language reminiscent of a battle campaign in describing it.

In the opening chapter, the president of the French Alpine Club has assembled a hand-picked team for the expedition, and he carefully lays out their orders in a formal fashion. It is like a general sending out a special squad on a dangerous mission. Each man pledges his obedience to their leader, Herzog, and contemplate the weight of their orders.

Herzog describes the long treks into the Himalaya as "marches" and when he sends small teams out to explore possible routes it is referred to as "reconnaissance." It is as if they...