krakauer also elaborated on the statistical curiosities of fatality rates on everest and how 1996 was "business as usual". the record number of 12 fatalities in the spring climbing season that year was 3% of the 398 climbers who had ascended above base camp—slightly below the historical average of 3.3% at that time. additionally, 12 climbers had died that season, and 84 had reached the summit. this is a ratio of 1 in 7—significantly less than the historical average before 1996 of 1 in 4. since the fatality rates on everest have dropped considerably, accounting for the volume of climbers in 1996 compared with previous years, 1996 was statistically a "safer"-than-average year.