"I explained I wanted to descend as quickly as possible to camp IV in order to warm myself and gather a supply of hot drink and oxygen in the event I might need to go back up the mountain to assist descending climbers"

Anatoli Boukreev was a prominent mountaineer who became part of the 1996 Mount Everest exploration. In this quote, he is discussing his desire to come down rapidly to Camp IV, which is located at the base of the mountain. He wished to arrive as rapidly as possible in order to warm himself and collect a supply of hot drink and oxygen in case he needed to return up the mountain to help any climbers who were still descending. This quote reveals Boukreev's selflessness and commitment to helping others, even in the face of severe danger. He wanted to put his own security at risk in order to assist those who were still having a hard time to make it down the mountain. His nerve and commitment to helping others is an inspiration to all.