Awe and Amazement Quotes in Into Thin Air

To be honest, Everest isn't that tough of a climb. Though the ascent is long and tiring, there are no steep cliffs to vault or death-defying leaps to be made. The truly awe-inspiring thing about Everest isn't its difficulty, but its sheer height.

That's so weird—"Three-Dimensional Landscape of Phantasmal Beauty" also happens to be our favorite Salvador Dali painting. Jokes aside, it's amazing how quickly the Icefall—a veritable deathtrap—transforms from a hall of horrors into a little slice of heaven. But Krakauer shouldn't let his guard down just yet: As he'll learn, looks can be deceiving.

This is a big moment. Although he has but a few hours to sit back and enjoy this view before continuing his long trudge up the mountain, Krakauer is happy for what little he can get.