Seattle: November 29, 1996 - 270 Feet Summary and Analysis

Krakauer finishes the book with a short epilogue describing some of the reactions he and his fellow climbers have experienced since the event, and following up on some of the people involved. Kasischke, among others, tell Krakauer that despite the deeply affecting tragedy, they have managed to move on. Weathers has his right arm amputated below the elbow and loses the fingers and thumb of his left hand. His nose has had to be removed and rebuilt, and his face is scarred from the frostbite.

Krakauer is having a harder time moving on. In the six months since returning to Seattle, he has thought about the disaster almost constantly. In September, his article about the climb is published in Outside magazine and he begins to receive letters from people who have read it. Most are...