On Krakauer’s trek up the Devil’s Thumb, he comes to the realization that the “accumulated clutter of day-to-day existence” becomes forgotten amidst the climax of a summit (143). By using the diction “accumulated clutter,” Krakauer demonstrates that the buildup of stress from mundane activities is gradual, and subsequently becomes irrelevant on the peak of a mountain. He shined a light on a “clarity of purpose” that “overpower[ed]” his thoughts (143). The word “overpowering” implies that the “clarity of purpose” took priority over his normal emotions and provided a greater importance.
By describing the climb as a “clear-eyed dream,” Krakauer uses the juxtaposition of the phrase to create a metaphor with multiple layers (142). Dreams are ordinarily