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'm absolutely fascinated by everything Everest, too - and I'm excited to find some new recommendations to get stuck in to. It started with The Girl Who Climbed Everest, and then 2 people I know trekked to Base Camp and I was totally hooked. I also feel conflicted about the ethics but it doesn't stop the fascination. I'd love to go to Base Camp, but I wouldn't attempt Everest for £1000000 (even if I was physically optimised 😅).

You should watch 14 Peaks on Netflix. I was gripped by it and previously had no interest in mountains at all. It really highlights the madness of Everest compared to the other big mountains. The others look almost untouched then Everest is covered in people and rubbish and queues for the top. It’s quite sad really, you wouldn’t leave litter on the floor here so why leave all your shit behind on a mountain.

@ponkyponky because when your life is in danger and you're on your lowest ebb the last thing you want to think about is carrying your empty oxygen canisters down a mountain. Descending is actually more dangerous - more climbers die on the way down because their energy is so depleted.

The effect of altitude sickness cannot be overestimated.

There is a documentary on Prime (I think) about an amazing sherpa who led a litter picking expedition on Everest. Incredible stuff.

It's really not the same as bringing your rubbish home from the beach.

Yep.

I think it’s disgusting. People go there, trash the environment, all to feed their ego.
I think each and every person should have to pay a fee to ensure all their rubbish is removed. Disgusting that the climbers feel entitled to do this.

Then there’s an argument for not doing it at all if you can’t bring your shit back down with you. That’s a really sad viewpoint that as humans we have the right to ruin anything and everything we want to. That’s how we got ourselves into this mess with rubbish filling the oceans and rivers and microplastics in our drinking water. If you can’t leave it the way you found it…. Don’t go in the first place.

Can you not see how entitled that sounds? Nobody is making them climb Everest. They are doing it for their ego. Happy to trade the environment in another country for bragging rights. Disgusting

Oh definitely. I'm not saying it's a good thing. I'm just explaining why it happens.

I am one of those mad thrill seekers and have done some pretty hard going long distance hiking trails when younger- although never made it to Everest Base Camp!
For me it's about the preparation and physically its pushing your body to its limits and beyond. It's also about going back to basics, getting into something that I call a natural rhythm and single focus of moving on getting to the finish line. It's balsam for the soul!

As for the pollution, I think it's disgusting. There is only one earth and we should look after it, preserve the beauty of all the different environments. Nepal should have tighter rules about the stuff that is brought to the mountain.
But then I sometimes think it's no different than the mess left behind after a UK music festival.

Humans have a lot to answer for.

I'm very uncomfortable with it. While I understand that it's beneficial for the Sherpas to make money doing it, I would never expect people to risk their lives for me so that I could brag about climbing a high mountain. I also don't understand why anyone would want to climb a mountain littered with human body parts. The lack of sensitivity is astounding to me.

I recommend reading “into thin air” by Jon Krakauer

I get that it’s got risks to the individuals - but I find it a rich man’s box checking exercise. I can think of 4 men - all fathers at my children’s pre prep - who have done it in their 40s. It seems like a bit of a rite of passage for men who have achieved a lot professionally / financially and don’t know what to do next… I suppose it’s marginally more interesting to hear about than their golf?

The litter / environmental impact on the mountain and surrounding communities is horrific - and the queues to summit would outweigh the magic of being so high for me - I absolutely understand the beauty of being in the Himalayas - but needing to get to the top of Everest seems like it’s more about something to talk about vs to experience..

These are also two of my favourite topics as well...!

I think the high death rates were earlier on when everest was an unusual pursuit. Now they are pushing large groups up in an organised production line, fatalities are a lot rarer. I have seen everest from a plane and that is the closest I ever plan on getting to climbing it. Must take a special type of compartmentalising to find it normal walking past bodies, littering as you go.

Great minds think alike :)

I also recommend this book

Interesting aside. The name is mispronounced, it should be Eve Rest.

I have watched them too and my first and lasting reaction is how unbelievable selfish can you be to do this.

Most people don’t actually do it. Their Sherpas carry everything, they are on oxygen and people risk their lives (and often lose them) so you can say you climbed Everest (which again you didn’t do without someone else bearing the load and almost doing it for you).

The people who have died, the extraordinary amount of rubbish and destruction still
leave some to believe this is one of the most selfish, self serving ‘accomplishments’ ever.

This popped up on Twitter

x.com/globalstats11/status/1883019327986925643?s=46&t=r8eE51dBwtiqt1n1SOKGlQ

I agree.

Why can't these arrogant self entitled men channel their energy into doing something constructive and useful to the community instead - fund raising for charity, for example.

Oh wait, that's isn't glamorous enough

Those of you who have read "Into Thin Air" really should read some of the accounts by the other climbers on the day of the tragedy. Krakauer's account was quite biased and laid a lot of blame on Anatoli Boukreev who write his own book "The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest" as a sort of defence. Other climbers on the two expeditions involved have also written more balanced accounts, eg. Beck Weathers "Left for Dead" and Lene Gammelgaard "Climbing High".

Also, it's not just men doing this. 870 women have summmited Everest.

I am also uncomfortable with the "tourism" aspect of it where rich people throw money at it in order to make the summit and then brag about it/tick it off a list.
You see it on a smaller scale in the Alps too with people doing particular climbs or hikes with guides when really they aren't capable of it, nor do they care about nature.

It's not just male egos, look up Shriya Shah-Klorfine. Her story just highlighted the sheer stupidity privilege can create. She didn't care about any kind of sense at all, no matter who told her she was unprepared she was convinced that she would be able to do it.

I don't think anyone should be allowed

It's basically a dump

The Netflix documentary is great, I think there are two - the one I've seen I think is called Sherpa, which highlights the plight of the Sherpas. It's fascinating and quite sad. The Sherpas risk their lives, they have no choice to do it as it's their only source of income. I think it's a disgusting thing all round and people shouldn't do it. Some of the Sherpas were carrying TVs for some of the climbers.

I'm also obsessed with Everest. I have a ghoulish fascination with it and would absolutely love to visit base camp though would never dream of attempting to climb it, much as I'd love to.

I also find it fascinating, along with Free Solo and the Discovery documentary on the rescue effort to free the Thai football team from the cave complex when they were cut off by unexpected rising water.

I’ve seen a number of documentaries on climbing Everest but one that sticks out for me is Extreme Everest with Ant Middleton. He organised his own climb with a small team. It shows a lot of the preparation he went though. I remember two instances particularly. Ant telling a group of climbers after watching a practice climbing session that they shouldn’t be on the mountain. Secondly once he has summited he spends a little time at the top whilst the rest of his team descend. When he goes to descend he sees the number of climbers coming up and has to wait for a gap to come down. That decision had consequences- don’t want to spoil it but obviously he made it down again! It’s interesting because he is obviously very tough and physically very capable and I think he found it far tougher than he thought he would.