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Rob Hall

Rob Hall was a New Zealand mountaineer, expedition leader and mountaineering guide known for co-founding Adventure Consultants and for leading a 1996 Mount Everest expedition that ended in disaster.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rob Hall was a New Zealand mountaineer, expedition leader and mountain guide who co-founded the commercial guiding company Adventure Consultants. He made five ascents of Mount Everest, more than any other non-Sherpa climber at the time of his death in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The 1996 expedition and Hall's death were later documented by Canadian-American journalist Jon Krakauer in the book *Into Thin Air*, making the event widely known in Canada and abroad.

Early life and climbing career

Rob Hall was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 14 January 1961. He became a professional mountaineer and guide, building a reputation as a skilled high-altitude climber.

Adventure Consultants

Hall co-founded Adventure Consultants with Gary Ball in 1991. The company, based in New Zealand, organized commercial climbing expeditions, including guided trips to Everest and other high peaks.

Everest ascents

Between 1990 and 1996, Hall reached the summit of Mount Everest five times. His fifth ascent, completed shortly before his death, made him the most successful non-Sherpa Everest climber at that time.

1996 Mount Everest disaster

Hall led an expedition during the 1996 Everest disaster, in which he and several others died near the summit. The event became widely known through Jon Krakauer's book *Into Thin Air* and the 2015 film *Everest*.

Key facts

  • Rob Hall was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1961.
  • He co-founded Adventure Consultants in 1991.
  • Hall reached the summit of Mount Everest five times.
  • He died on 11 May 1996 during the descent from Everest in the 1996 disaster.
  • His death and the expedition were later described in Jon Krakauer’s book *Into Thin Air* and the 2015 film *Everest*.
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Canadian context

Rob Hall is relevant to Canadian readers through *Into Thin Air*, by Canadian-American journalist Jon Krakauer, which helped make the 1996 Everest disaster widely known in Canada and elsewhere.[1][8]

Frequently asked questions

Who was Rob Hall?
He was a New Zealand mountaineer, guide and expedition leader best known for co-founding Adventure Consultants and for dying in the 1996 Everest disaster.
How many times did Rob Hall climb Everest?
He summited Mount Everest five times.
What was Adventure Consultants?
Adventure Consultants was a commercial mountaineering guiding company co-founded by Hall in New Zealand in 1991.
How did Rob Hall die?
He died on 11 May 1996 during the descent from Mount Everest, during the storm and collapse of the 1996 expedition.
Why is Rob Hall well known outside mountaineering?
His final Everest expedition was documented in Jon Krakauer’s *Into Thin Air* and dramatized in the 2015 film *Everest*.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Hall
    Supports: Birth, death, nationality, five Everest ascents, 1996 expedition, and later portrayals in *Into Thin Air* and *Everest*.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Rob-Hall
    Supports: Biography, professional role, five Everest ascents, and death during the 1996 Everest disaster.
  3. Adventure Consultantshttps://adventureconsultants.com/world-renowned/about-us/history
    Supports: Co-founding of Adventure Consultants and company history.
  4. American Alpine Club Publicationshttps://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199739600/Rob-Hall-1961-1996
    Supports: Hall’s death on Everest and summary of his climbing career.
  5. Wikipedia (Spanish)https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Hall
    Supports: Mention of *Into Thin Air*, the 2015 film *Everest*, and five Everest ascents.