Mount Everest

[Dunnoburt]

I'm probably really late to the party here and I suspect its because I have some kind of OCD but I've lately become absolutely captivated by Mount Everest and the individuals who attempt a summit, not being anywhere near inclined to attempt my local hill let alone this beast , I never realised just how many failed attempts there are, the sheer danger, the death zone, and the bodies, that lay there, preserved. The Sherpas, who in my opinion are the absolute stalwarts in laying lines/ladders etc. are risking their lives to fulfill the wishes of the wealthy, I'm really torn with how to feel about the whole Everest attempt. I dont even know why I'm posting (nobody home to share a thought with I suspect) but I've written so much now that I'm gonna post it anyway.....is it a case of the rich exploiting the poor?

I think that, as with all these things, it's a bit more complicated than that. Skilled climbing Sherpas are paid very well by Nepali standards and are recognised phenomenal athletes in their own right. Trekking and climbing also brings a great deal of money into Nepal. Does it also bring other things, like litter, bodies, incentives for relatively poor people to take substantial risks? Yes. But would most Sherpas and Tibetan/Nepali people want climbing stopped? I'm not sure.

I've watched a number of documentaries on Everest, it's a fascinating place. Imagine making it to the top and being at the highest point on earth!

I think something like one in eight people die making the attempt and when you're at the top it's the same height as a cruising airliner. Mental

I've no interest whatsoever in climbing Everest myself but in awe of those that are brave/stupid enough to try

I just find the whole thing bizarre. Surely the point of climbing up mountains is to enjoy the views, the challenge and the friendship of who you've gone with. All you see on the SM Reels is queues of people climbing over dead bodies. All just so they can say they have climbed everest. Male egos at their worst.

I genuinely don't know enough about it, but I'm absolutely fascinated by the bodies, the people that had to make the decision to leave someone who is hypothermic etc because it's simply life or death... and yes I agree, I don't think they would want it to stop, the sherpas are absolutely amazing!

Have you ever seen footage or photos of the queues that form to make it to the top? And the amount of human shit and litter left up there is disgusting.

Wow is it really as high as 1 in 8?

Everest was one of DD's case studies in her geography GCSE.

I remember when helping her to revise just how much litter is left there as climbers don't take it back with them.

I agree with you all, and I guess it's just because I've watched "Aftershock" and subsequently the Spencer Matthews documentary that I'm thinking it's more entitlement than anything else. The sherpas on the documents I've seen don't live a rich life by Nepalese standards I guess..... they are the ones who do all the "hard work", extreme tourism I guess.

The death rate is about 1%.

I'm obsessed with Everest and the people who climb it, I love watching films and documentaries on it.

I've always been fascinated and will read and watch absolutely anything.
However, the number of permits now available and the number of people being 'spoon-fed' to the summit is ridiculous - queues and queues of people waiting for hours to climb the Hillary Step in the death zone.

BIL did Everest a few years ago, it’s not for the faint hearted, some of the photos he has are terrifying. He made it to the summit but the conditions were horrific and yes he passed plenty of bodies. It’s very expensive to bring bodies off due the temperature and the weight of them as they freeze. Some have been brought off if the Sherpas know roughly where they are as far he’s told me. It’s a shit tip from the photos I’ve seen.

I love reading or watching about it. No desire to ever go there.

Ive read Into Thin Air a few times about the 1996 disaster. I recommend it op if you have not read it.

Massive respect to anyone who has done it. I never realised just how high it was.... in comparison to a commercial aeroplane, it's absolutely crazy to even contemplate. I guess the individuals who attempt it know the risks and the fact that they remain where they died is a big honour.

It's on my "payday" list! I've heard it mentioned in the docs x

Aaah the Mount Everest era. I’ve been there, I read every book you could ever buy about ME. I was absolutely fascinated for such a long time 🙈. I’ve now gone back into my North Korea fascination. Enjoy! There is lots to read/learn/watch :)

Have you watched the "Michael Pailin" series in NK? Also fascinating 🤦‍♀️

I don't even know if I spelt his name right lol

nothing like. the percentage death rate for Everest is about 1 per hundred. Whereas Annapurna is more like one in five.

I'm also fascinated and have been down many rabbit holes. K2 is more dangerous and there is a compelling documentary called The Summit about the disaster in 2008. Scary and quite disturbing as well and extremely fascinating into the psychologies of the climbers, as the survivors were interviewed. Some were criticised for keeping on after others had fallen off, such is "summit fever".

Watch the film EVEREST @Dunnoburt It's a true story, and is very good. Not sure where you can view it right now, (maybe Peacock, Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV,) but the DVD is about £4 from ebay.

Everest (2015 film) - Wikipedia

Mount Everest is amazing isn't it? Shame it's being wrecked by humans though - (mostly men!) Costs about £30,000 to go up there. 😱

Where can I watch that? It's just the whole fight or flight situation. Look after number one or attempt to be a team player.

check out you tube- a whole bunch of high mountaineering films on there.

Is this to do with the earthquake? I'm the worst person for watching films as I always fall asleep. But I will most definitely give it a go on recommendation!

They all know the risk and I do believe they’re thrill seekers. The amount of “friends” that were added to FB from that trip BIL made was eye opening. BIL is a risk taker though, to me it’s verging on the extreme if that makes sense. When he mentions it now we all roll our eyes, we’re sick of hearing about it and quickly shut the conversation down.