Reading about another death on Everest.

[Scott G.]

I bet that group is just ecstatic.
Looks like as much fun as mall shopping on Black Friday ten years ago.
This is a contest to prove who belongs in the really stupid club.

I think Disney should be put in charge, world leader in synthetic experience management.
What would Norgay & Hillary say about that pic ?

[Peter Polack]

What would Norgay & Hillary say about that pic ?

"They're all poseurs!"

[Mabouya]

"Into Thin Air" is probably the scariest book I've ever read in my life. Totally insane.

Given how whacked out that entire scene is, due to the types of people involved and the other forces mentioned above, like governments unwilling to "do the right thing" because it might affect a lucrative business, I'm not surprised that it's a total mess.

[SlowPokePete]

That picture hurts my eyes.

SPP

[slwrnu]

it is a business. follow the money. there are so many beautiful climbs near Everest, or in the next valley, or near Mont Blanc, or the Matterhorn which avoid these dangerous jams. I find it is more beautiful to look at these peaks then to be on them.

[Gattonero]

it is a business. follow the money. there are so many beautiful climbs near Everest, or in the next valley, or near Mont Blanc, or the Matterhorn which avoid these dangerous jams. I find it is more beautiful to look at these peaks then to be on them.

I'm not an expert, but from what I've read the Everest climb is one of the easiest ones AND is the highest peak in the world.
It's like leaving a jar of breadcrumbs and honey and be surprised there's a colony of ants, except that on the Everest you've got the weather becoming the Borax in the breadcrumbs.

[Tristan]

I've got a facebook friend who is up there at the moment as a soignoir (or whatever the climbing version is called) and her posts and insights are really interesting.

It's a huge bucketlist item. I wonder if negative publicity like yesterdays photo will knock some of the shine off it?

[slwrnu]

well it is coming to the end of the Everest season and the high alpine season will soon start, the problem is these famous routes usually have a one-way bit where you have to wait your turn up or down. And so the weather can cause you problems as you wait. I am not a guide but am usually 2ic. We had a strong group on the Mattrhorn which is really surprisingly hard (even on the basic Hornli Ridge) and we got up pretty much first so we could not get down the crux point because of the people coming up, so we rigged up a rappel down the side which was... interesting. It is easy to get in trouble on the mountains even if you are not at v high altitude. But we got back for lunch somehow. And I think our brilliant guide did it again the next day.

[Saab2000]

well it is coming to the end of the Everest season and the high alpine season will soon start, the problem is these famous routes usually have a one-way bit where you have to wait your turn up or down. And so the weather can cause you problems as you wait. I am not a guide but am usually 2ic. We had a strong group on the Mattrhorn which is really surprisingly hard (even on the basic Hornli Ridge) and we got up pretty much first so we could not get down the crux point because of the people coming up, so we rigged up a rappel down the side which was... interesting. It is easy to get in trouble on the mountains even if you are not at v high altitude. But we got back for lunch somehow. And I think our brilliant guide did it again the next day.

I don’t think it’s about the view. It’s about being able to say they did it.

Btw, I’d love to climb the Matterhorn! It’s the most iconic peak in Switzerland and always spectacular.

[fastupslowdown]

Can't imagine why anyone would want to climb Everest when the actual experience is waiting on the longest supermarket line on the planet. The professional climbing community needs to boycott Everest and demand a more responsible permit and support process. -Mike G

[happycampyer]

If that picture weren’t real, it would make a great New Yorker caption contest cartoon.

[Moke]

I said this a hundred times, but I wish the movie and catch phrase "Bucket List" never existed. Ever since it came out a lot of really cool things and places have gotten over whelmed with "Bucket Listers" just trying to do this "special something" in their life. While "Everest" is sort of a lofty item a lot of events and places are not that exclusive. Sometimes an event that is charming for 100 becomes saturday at the mall for 3,000. The only thing that stays the same is change, but it is to me sad to see small events and places go full Disneyland. I said for years the best National Park is Glacier. For years not many people went there, now they are facing Yosemite like admission problems and crowding at the features. Not too sure there is a solution for the "Bucket List" problems of the world, but alas it's complicated.

[e-RICHIE]

<cut> ...but I wish the movie and catch phrase "Bucket List" never existed. Ever since it came out a lot of really cool things and places have gotten over whelmed with "Bucket Listers" just trying to do this "special something" in their life.

Hmm can you say D2R2?
Pave paradise etc etc etc.

[Moke]

True that ATMO. I was sort of thinking of L'Eorica 2002 with 300 people in it. Now it is a lottery and a few thousand of your dear friends to ride with. Probably still cool, but different cool. Lots of events are Woodstock on bikes, trails, skis, or with the dog these days.

[TTX1]

If that picture weren’t real, it would make a great New Yorker caption contest cartoon.

“No, this is line for the women’s room”

“I think this the line for the new Supreme / Yeezy fanny pack. I heard they only made 10”

“Team 67 brought Krispy Kreme for everyone”

“This is nothing compared to Woodstock, man”

“If you think this is bad you should see the beer line in Austin”

“I should have stayed in line for the Hudson Yards Vessel”

And...

“Guys, are you ok? No one has moved in a while”

[slwrnu]

exactly, which is the point, climbing eg Everest is not enjoyable itself but you can brag about the achievement if you don't die (we didn't summit). The Matterhorn is a proper much more enjoyable climb with a couple of quite technical bits, you want to get to the top with more than 50% of your energy left. Then you will likely get home safe. Make sure your group know how to tie on and rappel. And belay. The feeling when you all get down safely is remarkable.

[ides1056]

‘It Was Like a Zoo:’ Death on an Unruly, Overcrowded Everest - The New York Times

Back in 1974, January or February, can't recall which, I attempted to climb Whitney with four of my classmates and one teacher from my high school. We spent a long day going in on skis and snowshoes and had the sense to turn around and head out the next day. It was epic, unforgettable, and not fatal.

I rode D2 once, had a blast, and now I drive sweep every year. I don't know whether the money spent adding Everest to the bucket list protects anything, but I am okay with 1500 people showing up on a late summer day for a cause I believe in.

[BBB]

"You have to qualify to do the Iron Man. You have to qualify to run the New York marathon,'' said Alan Arnette, a prominent Everest chronicler and climber. "But you don't have to qualify to climb the highest mountain in the world? What's wrong with this picture?"

I get why you'd want to climb Mt Everest, but I do not get doing so with a congo line of your new best friends and the increased risk of sitting still at extreme altitude and twiddling your thumbs.

A classic case of ego, ambition, money and a third world country keen to cash in on these things.

[slwrnu]

Well said BBB, we turned back at about 7000m as the wind had got up, but others who had spent maybe USD 50,000 pushed on even if they barely knew how to rope up. We descended and camped at c5000m we were all rather proud of our decision, we waited a couple of days, ate everything and then climbed a simple neighboring peak, still hard work, but it was very clear and we had the best views imaginable of Everest, Makalu and Llotse. Everyone was sensible enough to leave their egos behind.

[slwrnu]

when we got down our fantastic team of sherpas had prepared fried potatoes, you know, quite crunchy, with onion, Heinz baked beans, some water, best meal I have ever had. When we got to Lukla it ws traditional to have a ceremony to give tips to the people who had come all the way with us, we had a conflab and decided not only to provide some money, but we also gave them all of our kit, ice axes, crampons, boots, trainers, hats, jackets, gloves etc. Then we got a Russian helicopter back to Kathmandu.