Into Thin Air and Touching My Father’s Soul are my fourth and fifth books this year. I bookmarked these two when my interest grew around the Himalayas after reading the ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ and when I grew nostalgic about our first Himalayan trek back in 2017. I read about the 1996 accident in Mount Everest that seemed to be the most discussed event after 1953’s first summit. The year 1996 is marked for the disaster which killed 15 in total (per record) due to mistakes or, better put, a series of bad decisions in the congested mountain peak. My expectation from these two books, when I picked them, was to give a share of the virtual experience of climbing the highest peak on earth. I have never thought or braved to plan a trek up the highest mountain, maybe because of my physical limitations or just because I’m too afraid of the heights. However, both the books failed to give me the experience I sought-I didn’t realize a book takes its characteristic path narrating things and I largely failed to picture the words from the author’s view.
‘Into Thin Air’ is a journalist’s notes; straight, precise, to the point, and factual. Jon Krakauer, a journalist on his assignment with adventure magazine Outside, to report the commercialization of the mountain, lives his childhood dream of climbing Everest. An accomplished mountaineer himself, he talks about his previous experiences and his wish to summit Everest.
He has logged each incident that might have occurred high in the mountains. The book does not deviate even a bit. Little has been mentioned about what the climbers reflect during their climb or prose admiring the beauty of the rock, ice, and snow. The author walks you along with him on his daily hike. On the 9th of May, as the tragedy unfolds, the author makes you feel that you are helplessly standing in between the victims.
Did the climbers conquer the peak? Is the highest mountain on earth overcrowded? Are we racing for a showcase trophy when we and the mountains are not ready? Is summiting a mere certificate, despite the life threat and risk?
‘Touching My Father’s Soul’ sounds like a neighboring friend enthusiastically delineating the ascent to Chomolungma (Everest). Jamling Tenzing Norgay wanted to walk in the footsteps of his late father, Tenzing Norgay, to discover how it feels to climb Everest and to find out if his father had anything to teach him up in the mountains. His father, a strict and disciplined parent, had refused to permit Jamilng from venturing into Everest, saying, “I climbed Everest so that you wouldn’t have to.”. Jamilng wanted to find out what prompted and motivated anyone to ascend the treacherous peak, to know what was pulling him to an unknown mountain, and if he can connect with his father’s soul while stepping in his footsteps.
He got his chance with the Everest IMAX Filming Expedition. He wanted to walk along with his mighty fellow Sherpa people and check his beliefs in Buddhism. He admits that he is more of a ‘cynical’ person and believes that the climb would help him accept things around him as they are. His attempt is more of spiritual exploration. The higher he ascends, the deeper he goes inward.
Does he find peace? Does he get a chance to talk to his father and be blessed with his guidance? Does his quest conclude? All these are what kept me turning the pages.
If you have read these books, what is your opinion?
