Into Thin Air

by

Jon Krakauer

Scott Fischer Character Analysis

A talented, charismatic mountaineer who dies in the May 10 Everest disaster. Fischer has a reputation for being the “bad boy” of the mountain climbing world, especially when compared with Rob Hall. Nevertheless, Fischer is highly respected in his field, and runs a successful mountain tourism business. During his expedition to the summit of Everest in spring of 1996, Fischer begins to suffer from serious fatigue, in part because his guide, Anatoli Boukreev, isn’t doing his job effectively. On the afternoon of May 10, Fischer’s weeks of fatigue catch up with him, and in the thin air he become delirious. Fischer is unable to return to his tent in the midst of the storm, and he eventually freezes to death.

Scott Fischer Quotes in Into Thin Air

The Into Thin Air quotes below are all either spoken by Scott Fischer or refer to Scott Fischer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Danger and Mortality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

When Fischer questioned Ngawang, he admitted that he'd been feeling weak, groggy, and short of breath for more than two days, so Fischer directed him to descend to Base Camp immediately. But there is an element of machismo in the Sherpa culture that makes many men extremely reluctant to acknowledge physical infirmities. Sherpas aren't supposed to get altitude illness, especially those from Rolwaling, a region famous for its powerful climbers. Those who do become sick and openly acknowledge it, moreover, will often be blacklisted from future employment on expeditions.

Related Characters: Jon Krakauer (speaker), Scott Fischer, Ngawang Topchke
Page Number: 112-113
Explanation and Analysis:

They should have flown him out yesterday morning when they had a chance. If it had been one of Scott's clients who was this sick, instead of a Sherpa, I don't think he would have been treated so haphazardly.

Related Characters: Rob Hall (speaker), Scott Fischer, Ngawang Topchke
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

Fischer hid the fact from everyone, as well, that he may have been clinically ill during the summit attempt. In 1984, during an expedition to Nepal's Annapuma massif, he'd picked up a gastrointestinal parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, which he was unable to entirely purge from his body over the years that followed. The bug emerged from dormancy on an irregular basis, producing bouts of acute physical distress and leaving a cyst on his liver. Insisting it was nothing to worry about, Fischer mentioned the ailment to few people at Base Camp.

Related Characters: Jon Krakauer (speaker), Scott Fischer
Page Number: 210
Explanation and Analysis:
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Scott Fischer Quotes in Into Thin Air

The Into Thin Air quotes below are all either spoken by Scott Fischer or refer to Scott Fischer. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Danger and Mortality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

When Fischer questioned Ngawang, he admitted that he'd been feeling weak, groggy, and short of breath for more than two days, so Fischer directed him to descend to Base Camp immediately. But there is an element of machismo in the Sherpa culture that makes many men extremely reluctant to acknowledge physical infirmities. Sherpas aren't supposed to get altitude illness, especially those from Rolwaling, a region famous for its powerful climbers. Those who do become sick and openly acknowledge it, moreover, will often be blacklisted from future employment on expeditions.

Related Characters: Jon Krakauer (speaker), Scott Fischer, Ngawang Topchke
Page Number: 112-113
Explanation and Analysis:

They should have flown him out yesterday morning when they had a chance. If it had been one of Scott's clients who was this sick, instead of a Sherpa, I don't think he would have been treated so haphazardly.

Related Characters: Rob Hall (speaker), Scott Fischer, Ngawang Topchke
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

Fischer hid the fact from everyone, as well, that he may have been clinically ill during the summit attempt. In 1984, during an expedition to Nepal's Annapuma massif, he'd picked up a gastrointestinal parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, which he was unable to entirely purge from his body over the years that followed. The bug emerged from dormancy on an irregular basis, producing bouts of acute physical distress and leaving a cyst on his liver. Insisting it was nothing to worry about, Fischer mentioned the ailment to few people at Base Camp.

Related Characters: Jon Krakauer (speaker), Scott Fischer
Page Number: 210
Explanation and Analysis: