<P> Krakauer describes the events leading up to his eventual decision to participate in an Everest expedition in May 1996 , despite having mostly given up mountain - climbing years before . The 1996 expedition season recorded 8 deaths , including that of Krakauer 's guide Andy Harris . This was the third - highest recorded number of deaths on the mountain in a single day , the April 2015 Nepal earthquake having caused the most at ( at least ) 19 . </P>
<P> Krakauer describes the events leading up to his eventual decision to participate in an Everest expedition in May 1996 , despite having mostly given up mountain - climbing years before . The 1996 expedition season recorded 8 deaths , including that of Krakauer 's guide Andy Harris . This was the third - highest recorded number of deaths on the mountain in a single day , the April 2015 Nepal earthquake having caused the most at ( at least ) 19 . </P>
who dies in the book into thin air
who dies in the book into thin air
Krakauer 's guide Andy Harris
Krakauer 's guide Andy Harris