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Are people who climb Mt. Everest egomaniacs?

Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:36 am
Posted by lsuwontonwrap
Member since Aug 2012
34147 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:36 am
The Everest climbing season this year has resulted in 11 deaths. The mountain is crowded with "traffic" of people trying to get to the pinnacle and people are running out of oxygen or freezing to death.

Why do people do this? I get that it's a magnificent mountain, but why risk death? I don't possess the "risk my life for bragging rights" gene, so I'm just trying to understand. If you have a family that loves you, isn't it selfish to risk your life climbing a mountain where you might die?

I'm all for thrill seeking, but come on.

Also, shouldn't there be limits on who can climb? Shouldn't only people with a certain number of climbs in their belt be allowed to tackle Everest? The long and short of it is: Nepal is a poor country and Everest is their money maker, so they don't turn anyone down who wants to drop $11,000 to give it a shot.

And don't get me started on the piles of litter on the mountain. That's another complaint for another post.

‘It Was Like a Zoo’: Death on an Unruly, Overcrowded Everest

quote:

The problem hasn’t been avalanches, blizzards or high winds. Veteran climbers and industry leaders blame having too many people on the mountain, in general, and too many inexperienced climbers, in particular.

Fly-by-night adventure companies are taking up untrained climbers who pose a risk to everyone on the mountain. And the Nepalese government, hungry for every climbing dollar it can get, has issued more permits than Everest can safely handle, some experienced mountaineers say.



Posted by BlackCoffeeKid
Member since Mar 2016
11714 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:43 am to
I follow a couple guys on social media who climb Everest every year without supplemental oxygen (Adrian Ballinger and Cory Richards).
They make a point to pretty much say if you're inexperienced or inconsiderate to other the other climbers, ecosystem, etc. then stay the hell off the mountain.
This post was edited on 5/29/19 at 2:44 am
Posted by saintsfan1977
West Monroe, from Cajun country
Member since Jun 2010
7708 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:43 am to
Only if you're German.

LINK /
Posted by EarlyCuyler3
Appalachia
Member since Nov 2017
27290 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 2:44 am to
All the answers are already in the other thread.
Posted by Booyow
Member since Mar 2010
3995 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 4:39 am to
There was once this inexperienced climber who tried to climb Mt. Everest. He ran out of oxygen and now Himalayan there dead on the side of the mountain.
Posted by East Coast Band
Member since Nov 2010
62792 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 5:51 am to
It makes me look good on Facebook
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10402 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 5:52 am to
quote:

$11,000

I thought it was more in the $60-70k range. But I don’t get it either.
Posted by Wtodd
Tampa, FL
Member since Oct 2013
67488 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 5:56 am to
quote:

Are people who climb Mt. Everest egomaniacs?

Are people that drive 80 in a 55 egomaniacs?
Posted by tigers win2
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2009
3838 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 6:38 am to
quote:

$11,000

I thought it was more in the $60-70k range. But I don’t get it either.


$11k is for the permit from the country to be able to climb.

The remainder of the cost is the guide company, supplies logistics etc. I think the total you gave of $50k- $70k is correct all in.
This post was edited on 5/29/19 at 6:41 am
Posted by TDsngumbo
Alpha Silverfox
Member since Oct 2011
41609 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 6:52 am to
I understand the thrill of the challenge and it must be a huge rush to get to the top but that’s just irresponsible to put yourself and rescue teams into a position to be killed like that.
Posted by Kentucker
Cincinnati, KY
Member since Apr 2013
19351 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:35 am to
Remember when Mt. Everest used to be a challenge?

Posted by Motorboat
At the camp
Member since Oct 2007
22683 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:42 am to
That looks miserable. At what point do you see that line and say to yourself that this is ridiculous?
Posted by tketaco
Sunnyside, Houston
Member since Jan 2010
19525 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:44 am to
Some motherfrickers just want to skate uphill.
Posted by TheCaterpillar
Member since Jan 2004
76774 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:48 am to
99% of the people who do it now basically cheat. Sherpas do all the work, carry all the gear, set up the camps, etc.

They really need to limit how many can go on the mountain at once. Because the crowds are killing people. And maybe shut it down for a year and get sherpas to remove as much litter as they can.
Posted by TigerOnTheMountain
Higher Elevation
Member since Oct 2014
41773 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 7:49 am to
There's a Louisiana state flag stuck in the mountain near the peak that a Uhigh graduate put there in 2010.

He did not die.

Your points are valid, but the Nepal government does not give a single frick so nothing will change.
Posted by OchoDedos
Republic of Texas
Member since Oct 2014
34092 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 8:01 am to
[quote]I don't possess the "risk my life for bragging rights" gene, so I'm just trying to understand.[/quote

You answered your own question.
This post was edited on 5/29/19 at 8:15 am
Posted by keks tadpole
Yellow Leaf Creek
Member since Feb 2017
7580 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 8:07 am to
quote:

That looks miserable. At what point do you see that line and say to yourself that this is ridiculous?


There must be a Chick-Fil-A over that ridge.
Rest assured that the line will move fast.
This post was edited on 5/29/19 at 8:08 am
Posted by blueboy
Member since Apr 2006
56352 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 8:09 am to
quote:

They make a point to pretty much say if you're inexperienced or inconsiderate to other the other climbers, ecosystem, etc. then stay the hell off the mountain.

they sound super fun
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
9372 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 8:19 am to
quote:

99% of the people who do it now basically cheat. Sherpas do all the work, carry all the gear, set up the camps, etc.


One of my favorite quotes on this topic:

quote:

Taking a trip for six months, you get in the rhythm of it. It feels like you can go on forever doing that. Climbing Everest is the ultimate and the opposite of that. Because you get these high-powered plastic surgeons and CEOs, and you know, they pay $80,000 and have Sherpas put the ladders in place and 8,000 feet of fixed ropes and you get to the camp and you don’t even have to lay out your sleeping bag. It’s already laid out with a chocolate mint on the top. The whole purpose of planning something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain and if you compromise the process, you’re an a-hole when you start out and you’re an a-hole when you get back.”

- Yvon Chouinard
Posted by lsu13lsu
Member since Jan 2008
11484 posts
Posted on 5/29/19 at 8:32 am to
quote:

Your points are valid, but the Nepal government does not give a single frick so nothing will change.


I wish more governments gave people the opportunity to kill themselves if they wish doing whatever it is that doesn't hurt others.
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