Chapters 1 through 5 Summary and Analysis

In September of 1993, Greg Mortenson is part of a small group of professional hikers who have just made an attempt on a rugged mountain called K2. It is located in Pakistan and Greg, along with his fellow hiker Scott Darsney, are hiking back toward civilization when Greg becomes separated from his group. It is explained that Greg had been making the attempt at the summit of K2 in memory of his younger sister, Christa, who had died young. Greg is so exhausted that he has lost sight of Darsney as well as his own guide, a man named Mouzafer. Mouzafer has almost all Greg's belongings except a thin blanket. Greg recalls the events that brought him to this point. He and Darsney had been involved in a rescue operation and the exertion, lack of sleep and the rigors of...