During his climb to Camp Two, what does Krakauer find wrapped in blue plastic sheeting on the side of the trail?

During his climb to Camp Two, what does Krakauer find wrapped in blue plastic sheeting on the side of the trail?

• A. A bag of supplies
• B. A body
• C. A map
• D. A tent

Answer: (B)

This moment foregrounds the harsh reality and immediacy of death on Everest. As Krakauer climbs toward Camp Two, he sees something on the slope wrapped in blue plastic sheeting—a body. The blue wrap isn’t just packaging; it’s a makeshift shroud that marks the presence of a climber who died on the mountain. This sight is meant to shock and remind readers (and the climber) that the ascent is a perilous endeavor where death is a constant, visible possibility, not just a distant statistic. It’s not a bag of supplies, a map, or a tent—things associated with living, navigating, or camping—so the scene underscores mortality over utility, and it helps explain why the mountain changes people who survive it.

This moment foregrounds the harsh reality and immediacy of death on Everest. As Krakauer climbs toward Camp Two, he sees something on the slope wrapped in blue plastic sheeting—a body. The blue wrap isn’t just packaging; it’s a makeshift shroud that marks the presence of a climber who died on the mountain. This sight is meant to shock and remind readers (and the climber) that the ascent is a perilous endeavor where death is a constant, visible possibility, not just a distant statistic. It’s not a bag of supplies, a map, or a tent—things associated with living, navigating, or camping—so the scene underscores mortality over utility, and it helps explain why the mountain changes people who survive it.