Camp Three: May 9, 1996 - 24,000 Feet Summary and Analysis

Krakauer emerges from a poor sleep on May 9 and slowly prepares to climb. By the time he begins, most of his group has already started. He is surprised to see Kasischke and Fischbeck continuing, assuming that they would be too exhausted to continue.

The face they are climbing has small rocks continually rushing down, creating a dangerous situation. There is one rope leading up the face, and Krakauer tries to move as quickly as possible to avoid the long line of climbers behind him. This requires him to carefully pass other climbers on the rope by unclipping his safety line briefly as he moves around them. This tires him quickly. He is still not used to the facemask, and takes it off several times feeling he is suffocating, to find the breathing without...