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Mount Everest Anyone?

DrewPaul

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Ever since I read the book Into Thin Air I have been fascinated by people who have the courage (foolhardy) gumption to climb it. They are all aware of how many people die trying, some without even getting to the top. The video is about the technically most difficult part of the climb the legendary Hillary step. Everyone says though the scariest part is crossing this huge chasm by walking over an aluminum ladder. Just watching is harrowing enough for me...I think most do this out of sheer ego. I think its dumb for people with children to do this. You die that's all they'll remember.

 
Watch that video and then imagine being Hillary or Tenzing (sp?) in 1953.
 
I can’t believe the mounds of trash left behind.
 
DrewPaul said:
Did they even have oxygen?
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According to the interweb; Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent of Mt.Everest in 1952 was largely made possible by their use of bottled oxygen.
 
DrewPaul said:
Ever since I read the book Into Thin Air I have been fascinated by people who have the courage (foolhardy) gumption to climb it. They are all aware of how many people die trying,
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Foolhardy is the correct word and it's always the other guy who is gonna die so these rocket scientists don't even consider that possibility.
 
Rexedgar said:
I can’t believe the mounds of trash left behind.
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Over 200 corpses up there as well but taking them down would result in more bodies. They were offering bounties on empty O bottles which helped a lot.
 
noonereal said:
Foolhardy is the correct word and it's always the other guy who is gonna die so these rocket scientists don't even consider that possibility.
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The worst one's are the people with children and a spouse in my opinion. If you're single and want to take a chance it's your life. When you have children its not your life to do as you please.
 
DrewPaul said:
Over 200 corpses up there as well but taking them down would result in more bodies. They were offering bounties on empty O bottles which helped a lot.
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IMO, all climbing should be suspended until the mountain is cleaned up.
 
Rexedgar said:
According to the interweb; Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent of Mt.Everest in 1952 was largely made possible by their use of bottled oxygen.
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Ah, thanks. I was also wondering whether they had oxygen.
 
Rexedgar said:
According to the interweb; Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent of Mt.Everest in 1952 was largely made possible by their use of bottled oxygen.
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And his use of a Sherpa.
 
noonereal said:
Foolhardy is the correct word and it's always the other guy who is gonna die so these rocket scientists don't even consider that possibility.
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The guides (Sherpas?) risk their lives to make a living by shepherding amateurs. I imagine a number of the guides die in the process.
 
Rexedgar said:
IMO, all climbing should be suspended until the mountain is cleaned up.
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Qft

And close the world's beachs until every piece of plastic, excrement and chemical dump has been cleaned up.
 
When you have a line of people that long, trying to get in a record book, there is a problem, IMO.
 
Pyrite said:
The guides (Sherpas?) risk their lives to make a living by shepherding amateurs. I imagine a number of the guides die in the process.
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Tough way to make a living.
 
Pyrite said:
The guides (Sherpas?) risk their lives to make a living by shepherding amateurs. I imagine a number of the guides die in the process.
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The Sherpas are well respected in their communities and make good cash compared to others in the community. They die also. Usually helping someone.
 
Rexedgar said:
When you have a line of people that long, trying to get in a record book, there is a problem, IMO.
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Yes they're losing brain cells using up their oxygen as they wait interminably for their turn. They also have to work around other people getting the hell off the mountain. The book Into Thin Air discusses the commercialization of it. The people using a guide company pay huge money and have to take nearly two months off. The last few weeks are agony in preparation and acclimating climbs. Its no vacation.
 
Thanks for the video and for the information you've provided. That book has long been on my "To Read" list. I'll bump it to the top - and try to remember to get it.
 
Pyrite said:
Thanks for the video and for the information you've provided. That book has long been on my "To Read" list. I'll bump it to the top - and try to remember to get it.
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My pleasure. If you enjoy that book you might like the book 'Alive' about the football team (soccer) that crashed in the Andes mountains. Gruesomely they resorted to cannibalism but hey you do what you got to. I get so involved in books like that I actually start shivering when reading.
 
Thanks!
 
DrewPaul said:
The worst one's are the people with children and a spouse in my opinion. If you're single and want to take a chance it's your life. When you have children its not your life to do as you please.
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Agree. It costs almost $100,000. If you have a family, it's incredibly selfish to even put them thru that.
 
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