Talk:Andy Harris (mountain guide)

modified text to more closely align with source

Today I modified a line in this article describing Jon Krakauer's feelings regarding the death of Andy Harris. The previous Wikipedia text read,

"…Krakauer, who survived the disaster, wrote a book on the subject a couple of months after the events. He personally feels responsible for Harris' death."

{citation given = 1997 May 17 Tim Cornwell article in The Independent}

Which seems to me to potentially imply a slightly different level of 'responsibility' felt than the referenced article supports. I have now replaced this description with the direct Jon Krakauer quote that the reference cites.

"…Krakauer, who survived the disaster, wrote a magazine article and then a book on the subject after the events, in which he wrote he felt that his, '...actions - or failure to act - played a direct role in the death of Andy Harris.'"

The relevant section of the referenced 'Independent' article relies on this Krakauer quote so this seems to be the best source for this opinion.

"…He [Krakauer] blames himself in particular for failing to spot that a guide, Andy Harris, was weakened and acting irrationally from altitude and lack of oxygen. Mr Krakauer thought he had watched him return to camp; in fact, he apparently strayed over a 4,000ft precipice. 'My actions - or failure to act - played a direct role in the death of Andy Harris.'"

Tim Cornwell, The Independent (17 May 1997), "Sacrificed to the fatal lure of Everest"

Spark Notes v Full Book

This is what happens when people read Spark Notes instead of the book: Later on, Harris checked on some oxygen canisters near the Southeast Ridge, and stated they were all empty, which they were not. It was also believed (weasel words?), like Harris' possible case of hypoxia cited from the Spark Notes, that his connector was iced over, & that's why he thought Hall's stash of oxygen canisters at the South Summit were all empty....because they wouldn't work with his. Krakauer got a bottle to work with his equipment but could not convince Harris otherwise; even on hours-later radio transmissions, Harris yelled over others telling Hall to get down to the South Summit for oxygen that they didn't work. I've got the full Krakauer book handy. Anyone think this could use some fleshing out with a few additions from it? ScarletRibbons (talk) 15:30, 28 July 2017 (UTC)

Date of death

Did Harris really die on May 10? Assuming that he was with Hansen and Hall shortly before he disappeared, this could have been after midnight on May 11 during the storm. What would be the best source for this info? Into Thin Air is problematic, but without a body or direct witness, time of death has to be based on educated guesswork. Henry Hannon (talk) 01:39, 29 December 2019 (UTC)