Jon Krakauer Calls Climbing Everest "Biggest Mistake of My Life"

Into Thin Air author Jon Krakauer raised eyebrows a few days back when he said that he felt climbing Mt. Everest was the biggest mistake of his life. Krakauer was speaking at a Huffington Post Live event at the time, which was being used to promote the new mountaineering film Meru in which he appears. His response came after receiving a question from a young climber who wanted tips for taking on the world's tallest mountain.

During the exchange Krakauer revealed that since climbing Everest back in 1996, the now-infamous season that was chronicled so famously in his book, he has suffered from bouts of PTSD, and continues to struggle with the events that too place there. You may recall that in 1996 eight climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including legendary guide Rob Hall. Into Thin Air is also he basis of the new film Everest that will be released to theaters on September 18.

Krakauer became famous thanks to the book, which was a bestseller at the time and is considered one of the top mountaineering books of all time. But, he told the HuffPo Live crowd "if I could go back and relive my life, I would never have climbed Everest."

Those are strong words from a guy who is so closely associated with the mountain. But they also show you how much of an impact the events that took place there have impacted his life, and he's probably not alone. A lot of people climb Everest for many different reasons, and the experience means different things to each of them. But when something as dreadful as the 1996 season goes down (or the 2014 and 2015 seasons for that matter), it is going to stick with you for the rest of your life.

The author went on to advise the 11-year old climber who initially asked the question about climbing Everest to think long and hard about his decision to do so. Krakauer told him "It's a serious, serious choice," adding, "If you do it, if you go for it, you'll be making really important decisions where your brain isn't functioning because of hypoxia or you haven't had enough to eat. Meru is a much harder mountain to climb, but in some ways Everest is much more dangerous. The dangers are more insidious. They're not as obvious."

Strong words indeed from a man who knows what he is talking about.

Video: Watch the Second Trailer for Everest

Next month, the big Hollywood adaptation of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air will hit theaters at long last. Simply entitled Everest, this film features an all-star cast with the likes of Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kiera Knightly, Robin Wright, and many more. Last week, the second trailer for the film was released, giving us more of a glimpse of what to expect from the movie. This trailer includes more climbing shots than we've seen in the previous clips, including some nerve-wracking scenes of climbers passing through the Khumbu Icefall. It also gives viewers a better sense of the scope of the story as well, which most of us know inside and out by now.

When the first trailer for the film was released, I was a bit skeptical. Now, I remain cautiously optimistic. There is still some cringe-worthy dialog at times, but the climbing scenes look top notch, and cinematography is breathtaking. I think it is safe to say that we probably haven't seen a mountaineering film of this kind before, and I am now eager to see it on the big screen. Hopefully it meets expectations. Checkout the second trailer below.

Video: Trailer for Hollywood Blockbuster Everest

I've known for sometime that Hollywood was making a movie that based around the events that took place on Everest back in 1996. The all-star cast that includes Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robin Wright, and Keira Knightley was announced ages ago. Yesterday, the first trailer for the film was released, allowing us to get our first look at the film which is set for release on September 18. You'll find that trailer below.

I will admit that the film looks intriguing, and I've got my fingers crossed that Hollywood may have made a good mountaineering film for a change. Some of the dialogue in the trailer is a bit clichéd however, and there are a lot of overly dramatic scenes too. Hopefully those are just being played up to hype the film, and the full movie will offer a good look at the events that took place on the mountain. Either way, you know I'll be headed to the theater to catch this one. The scenery and cinematography alone look like they will be worth it. We'll find out in a few months. Meanwhile, take a look for yourself.

Video: Official Trailer for Meru - Climbing the Shark Fin

If you only watch one video today, make it this one. It is the official trailer for the film Meru, the film that documents the 2008 ascent of Meru Peak along the Shark's Fin that was completed by Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk. The trio spent days moving up the 6660 meter (21,850 ft) peak located in Himalaya of India. Their expedition has become the stuff of legends, and now the full story will be told. The trailer looks fantastic, with some images that are both incredibly beautiful and tension-inducing all at the same time. This was one of the most difficult climbs attempted, and the film will bring us all of the details directly from the men who did it themselves. I can't wait to see this.

MERU Official Trailer from Jimmy Chin on Vimeo.