Near the end of chapter 12, Krakauer describes a decision that would end up being part of “a slow accrual compounding steadily and imperceptibly toward critical mass.” What was the decision?

Upon resuming the climb, Krakauer soon finds Lopsang Sherpa vomiting from sheer exhaustion. Normally one of the strongest climbers on the mountain, Lopsang fell from the front of the line, where he would have been a key asset, as the day took a tragic turn. His decision to unnecessarily short-rope Pittman—motivated by an over-eagerness to get the whole team to the summit and please Fischer—would later be questioned and criticized. I think summiting to please Fischer was the beginning of this tragedy.