Why Do People Climb Mt. Everest? (Book Review Sample)

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Why Do People Climb Mt. Everest?
As Gautam states, “mountainous landscapes have glaciers, falls, and high passes that make the natural sceneries enchanting” (106). These natural features also possess great majesty and mystery. “They are the sources of peace, happiness, power, faith, and enlightenment” (Gautam 105). Hence it is unsurprising that many are drawn to mountaineering. Nevertheless, the terrifying encounters of many people during mountain climbing make one question if such majesty, mystery, and beauty are worth exploring, given the risks involved. Based on Krakauer’s recollection of the experiences of mountaineers climbing Mount Everest, mountain climbing poses many dangers, including the possibility of a deadly fall, exposure to extreme altitude, exposure to fatal storms, exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, and snow blindness, among other risks. While some may be unaware of the hurdles they are likely to face during climbing Everest, others begin the journey fully aware of the possible challenges. Such people would spend thousands of dollars on an adventure that could result in failure or even death. He says, “… relatively inexperienced amateurs each of whom had paid as much as $65,000 to be taken safely up Everest into an apparent death trap” (ch.1). This seemingly absurd behaviour indicates humans' adventurous, spiritual, and risk-taking nature. In particular, the climbers of Mount Everest are likely driven by their innate adventurous nature and risk-taking behaviours as opposed to the scenic beauty, majesty, or other features directly attributed to the mountain itself.
Individuals may list different reasons for climbing Everest, but most seem driven by the need to explore. In his recount of the Everest climbers, Krakauer notes that some climbers, such as Mallory, went climbing Everest for fun. According to Krakauer, Mallory was an "idealist with decidedly romantic sensibilities" (ch.2). Given his nature, he did not seem like one who would take such as risky climbing Mt. Everest. Furthermore, Mallory had a background in upper-tier English society, implying that he had hardly faced any hardships, such as starvation, hunger, or long walks through rough terrain. This means he was better fitted to take on a less tedious