Why climb? That's a question that baffles me. It perplexes me. I really asked that a lot on Everest. I can't justify it. I can't say it's for a good cause. All I can say is look at the history of exploration: it's full of vainglorious pursuits. Jon Krakauer askbaffleclimb share on social
You can get a lawyer with two months off or a New York socialite who wants to play at being Lewis and Clark and put them up there, but Everest is still in charge; it can still kick butt. Jon Krakauer buttchargeclark Change image and share on social
There's something about being afraid, about being small, about enforced humility that draws me to climbing. Jon Krakauer afraidclimbdraw Change image and share on social
Heaven, for me, is one focused project - it's like a weird form of autism. Jon Krakauer autismfocusform Change image and share on social
Once you believe that God is speaking directly to you, there is no discussion. Jon Krakauer directlydiscussiongod Change image and share on social
Almost every magazine piece I've ever written, I felt like I haven't done it justice, like it was just a gloss. Jon Krakauer feltglosshave Change image and share on social
When I went to Everest, I underestimated things. I just didn't know what altitude could do. Or the cold - I especially didn't appreciate the cold. It can be just debilitating, and things can happen so quickly. Jon Krakauer altitudecolddebilitate share on social
You get a compound fracture in Colorado where I live, and you can probably be in a hospital within a matter of hours, certainly within a day. Jon Krakauer coloradocompoundday Change image and share on social
I really enjoy researching, and for almost every piece, I research enough to write a book. Jon Krakauer bookenjoypiece Change image and share on social
When I was 23, I climbed this mountain in Alaska called Devil's Thumb alone. It was incredibly dangerous, and I did it because I thought that if I did something that hard and pulled it off, my life was gonna be transformed. And of course, nothing happened. But I get the search for purpose. Jon Krakauer alaskacallclimb share on social