What are the parrallels between Chris and the author besides mountain climbing?

Interesting question. I don't know many mountain climbers though I can speculate a little. Mountain climbers love adrenalin. The rush of climbing keeps them coming back. Chris was very much full of adrenalin. Each climbing experience, I have heard, is different. Chris was always searching for a different experience; it is why he never stayed long in one place. I think the biggest similarity is that climbers live in the moment. Like the writings of Thoreau, when they climb, they live "deliberately". Chris yearned for that. He wanted every moment to feel real, unfettered by abstractions like greed, consumerism and societies other illusions.