Accident on Mt. Everest
- Thread starter Cyclonestate78
- Start date
Huh... that's funny. "Accident on Mt. Everest" is what we call my cousin who was conceived in Nepal.
They had a show on Discovery channel a few years back that ran for a few seasons that followed people through the process of trying to summit Everest. The physical punishment they endured was incredible. I understand that would be one hell of an accomplishment to summit Everest but at what risk? Several of them lost fingers and toes, altitude sickness, and some were fairly close to dying up there. Even people in supreme physical condition have higher odds of dying up there then most people would find as an acceptable risk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everest:_Beyond_the_Limit
Last edited:
Yeah I've watched those on Netflix, I recommend them to anyone that's interested in Everest. I remember one season with the guy that had asthma and was trying to climb without supplemental oxygen, he ended up taking oxygen but even trying without was insane.
I remember that one. I also remember the biker that was told numerous times to turn back and refused. He damn near got the entire group killed up there when he injured his hand. That guy ****** me off. It's one thing to go up there and kill yourself being an idiot but it's another thing to put other people in danger because of your stupidity.
Some of the climbers do this but the Sherpa usually are the ones that attempt to rescue people. At certain elevations trying to rescue another climber would basically be a guaranteed suicide mission and they try anyway. That being said... I think most of the climbers are fully aware and accept the fact that by attempting to make the climb if they get into trouble it is up to them to get themselves out of trouble because nobody else can do it for them.
There's basically nothing that can be done once you reach a certain altitude, getting themselves up and down basically takes everything they have. Like 78 said, the climbers all know the deal when they start.
I remember when I was at Rocky Mountain National Park and looked out and realized why people risk there lives to climb Mt. Everest.
Yet there always seems to be a lot of finger-pointing when **** goes south. At least that was the case in Krakauer's book and the movie they made from it.
It was extremely scary opening this thread... I actually have a co-worker/friend who just arrived at base camp earlier this week... fortunately he is alright and was not involved.
I dunno... when you have 100s of people waiting at that last part to get their several minutes of glory on top then go back down to their guides/sherpas/body carriers it takes some luster away.
And no I could NOT do it but when all it really takes is lots and lots of money and some physical endurance its not the same accomplishment.
I always marvel at the no ropes rock climbers...
Yeah, I got hooked on this show on Netflix. Pretty awesome. The Sherpas are something else, going up there first and setting ropes for everyone.
The overcrowding on Everest is almost more dangerous than the actual climb itself. People are getting trapped in situations because there are just so many dang people on that mountain. The Beyond the Limit series that 78 referenced is really solid. Watched it all on Amazon Prime video.
So odd. Am at my parents house with Netflix. Was bored last night and saw this show and thought it would be cheesy like so many on the history channel. Ended up watching about 6 hours last night. Too bad the episode where they run across that guy who was alive but died is not on Netflix. We don't have it back home so I can't watch more but dawn it was intereating.
After the first two who reached in the 1950s its not "exciting" to anyone except the climber himself but still quite a feat. Never knew it was that expensive to climb- probably why everyone is older than you'd imagine. Of the people who have summited the most do you think it's probably a sherpa and not a western guide? Do the sherpas get sick of it? Will the army invent a copter that can fly that high without problems? If so, the luster is gone.
After the first two who reached in the 1950s its not "exciting" to anyone except the climber himself but still quite a feat. Never knew it was that expensive to climb- probably why everyone is older than you'd imagine. Of the people who have summited the most do you think it's probably a sherpa and not a western guide? Do the sherpas get sick of it? Will the army invent a copter that can fly that high without problems? If so, the luster is gone.
Once they got to the part of which perfectly preserved dead bodies to use as checkpoints, I'd be out. I'm not interested in future generations of smartasses taking selfies with me and ending up on Instagram. Not unless I could haunt them.
It's insane how long some of the bodies have been unchanged up there. Really fascinating on TV. That's as close as I'll get. Flying there would scare me to death. I saw that most dangerous airports special. That alone is too much for me.
It's insane how long some of the bodies have been unchanged up there. Really fascinating on TV. That's as close as I'll get. Flying there would scare me to death. I saw that most dangerous airports special. That alone is too much for me.