Jon+Krakauer

=**Jon Krakauer**=


 * Jon Krakauer**

Jon Krakauer (1954) is the author of Into Thin Air, Eiger Dreams, and Into the Wild. He has also been published in many periodicals such as National Geographic, TIME, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, and Outside. In 1996, Into the Wild made the New York Times bestseller list.


 * Devil's Thumb**

Krakauer's father taught him how to mountain climb when he was eight years old. He has a passion for adventure, and after graduating from Hampshire College in 1976, he spent his time off of his carpentry work climbing in Colorado, Alaska, and in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1977, he traveled alone to the Stikine Icecap in southeast Alaska to climb to it's peak called the Devil's Thumb.


 * Mt. Everest**

Krakauer reached the peak of Mt. Everest in May 1996. He did not travel alone, and eight of his companions did not make it out alive when a storm engulfed the peak. He wrote his book Into Thin Air based on his experience. It became a New York Times bestseller and it was honored as the "book of the year" by TIME magazine.



2006, Jon Krakauer and Commander Ghulam Khalil of the Afghan Special Forces
 * Everest '96 Memorial Fund**

Krakauer founded the Everest '96 Memorial Fund to honor the climbers who died with him on the journey to the peak of Mt. Everest. The organization provides humanitarian aid to the indigenous people in the Himalayas. It also supports humanitarian and environment charities in the USA.

(Sarah Collins)