The novel Into Thin Air, written by Jon Krakauer, has a variety of themes throughout the tragic account, but one seems to stay constant throughout. During the entire climb up and descent down the almighty Mt. Everest, the climbers and their sherpas must be able to trust and care for one another or the mission to reach the summit and come back down alive will be failed. They must also have a certain degree of loyalty to one another as well in order to survive. The teammates do this and more as the going gets tougher and tougher on the 29,028 ft. peak. .
After everyone had reached the top of Mt. Everest, the hard part had just begun, as a brutal blizzard was hammering the descending mountaineers. Rob Hall, who was the leader of Krakauer's group, had waited two hours past the set turn-around time just so client Doug Hansen could finally reach the top of the mountain. However, this wait would wind up killing both of their lives, as Hansen was too weak to get back down and Hall would not leave him. Also, Andy Harris was a guide under Hall and wanted to get oxygen up to the stranded men, but was too weak to do it himself. Perhaps the greatest showing of loyalty among teammates comes when Harris offers to pay Lopsang Jangbu, a sherpa for Scott Fischer's expedition, 500 dollars to carry the oxygen to Hall and Hansen. Lopsang goes on to say, ""I am supposed to take care of just my group. I have to take care of Scott I go fast down"" (Krakauer 296). This is sheer loyalty to Fischer, as Lopsang knows both men will die without supplemental oxygen, but he keeps his word, friendship, and tremendous loyalty to Fischer instead. This decision winds up also killing Harris, as he tries to get the oxygen to the men himself, despite his almost complete depletion, another act of loyalty to Hall. .
In addition, the theme of loyalty among teammates is prevalent throughout the novel. Lopsang shows a great amount of respect and loyalty to Fischer, and Harris shows the same to Hall and Doug Hansen.