Tibet—The Yak Nomads Summary and Analysis

A journalist asks Messner and Nena to take walkie-talkies with them to Everest, which prompts an entry in Nena's diary. She writes that it would not make her feel better to talk from base camp with Messner while he climbs, because she knows it's important to him to have no technical aids. What's more, she wants to face her own fear for him, rather than anesthetize it through communication. Finally, she thinks that his absence from her might cause his feelings for her to clarify. About a week later, the two travel from Italy to Munich, where Messner's publisher gives him an article in which mountain climbing and Messner's efforts are described as a waste of courage. Messner is both amused and shocked by it. He then receives a telex from China saying...