61. The Group Splits Up
After acclimating at the base camp, Krakauer notes how some of the bodies of unfortunate mountaineers are landmarks for their ascent. After the group splits up, a freak blizzard strikes all the expedition groups on the mountain, leaving different groups stranded in the arctic conditions.
The Guardian
According to Krakauer, many people ran out of oxygen that allowed them to hike at such high altitudes. In the human brain, a lack of oxygen results in poor choices and the likelihood of panicking at the worst time possible. Eight people would eventually die due to the blizzard disrupting communications and forcing hikers to run out of supplies.
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