re: Climbing Mt Everest - WYDI and WHY??

No one wants to climb the North Face?

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I'm actually doing Elbert and Massive this summer. Although those aren't all that impressive I suppose.

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Everything is relative. Don't let the mountaineers in this thread discourage you. Elbert is the highest peak in CO and I think only Rainier and Whitney are higher in the lower 48. It's over 14,000' and not many people from LA have been over 14,000' who weren't in an airplane.

It's not a technical climb. If the weather isn't bad, anyone who is in decent condition and has the desire to reach the summit should be able to. That doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment. I've "climbed" three of CO's 14ers and that's three more than any of my friends and family have. (All "easy" ones ... Mt. Elbert, Long Peak and Torrey's Peak.)

Enjoy your trip. The views are unbelievable. Its not Everest, but it's not Monkey Hill or the top of the levee either.

I'd love to tell people I've taken shite off of the highest peak on earth.

It's the number 1 goal of my life so I hope so.

Don’t need to pay 300k+ to feel good about myself.

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Watch the YouTube documentary about the frozen bodies still on the mountain. People just freeze in place and become part of the mountain if they can not safely be retrieved. They literally use some of them as trail markers.

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I came across some of that in my binges of watching videos. At first, it sounds appalling that the mountain has an abundance of bodies and they are often visible landmarks. But the realities of bringing them down are too costly (financial and human toll).

I also see them as valuable reminders to those who are going past them to realize the stark realities of what they are facing in a situation where oxygen, strength and ration decision making can quickly disappear with fatal consequences.

That Beck Weathers did not end up as one of those bodies is a tale of many miracles. He had been left for dead, abandoned and left to open exposure in the storm hopeless and lost.

His wife Peach organized the helicopter rescue, which was thought to be impossible (and never done before and never a helicopter to that height).

She did this knowing she had already prepared divorce papers to be given to Beck upon his return. She would not have wanted to ruin his trip by serving them before. His mountain obsessions were too great a cost for the family Beck left as he pursued his obsession.

She devoted herself to rescuing him and helping him recover. She told him of the divorce papers and put all that aside to care for him and give him to be the chance that he man he promised to be up on that mountain. He survived everything he did because of his love of his wife and kids.

As you see, i see beck and peach's story as quite interesting and enduring. They are both so likeable and strong minded and unique.