Deleted
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Dec 4, 2024 21:28:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 12:53:07 GMT
 "Despite the risks, Everest has grown increasingly crowded. In 2018, a record number of climbers made it to the summit, according to figures from Alan Arnette, who chronicles the journeys of climbers on the mountain on his blog.... While climbers must register for a permit to scale the mountain, there is no quota system in place, so the crowds continue to grow." One man died on descent - only in his mid-50s. His dream was to scale the 7 summits. He achieved that goal. In return, he will now lose years and memories with his children and grandchildren. www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/world/asia/deadly-everest-traffic-jam.html |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on May 24, 2019 13:02:29 GMT
I would never climb up there in the first place, but it seems even scarier with all of those people lined up.
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Post by hockeymom4 on May 24, 2019 13:06:49 GMT
To me (who would also never do it) it almost would defeat the purpose to be following the pack up......
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Post by gizzy on May 24, 2019 13:08:13 GMT
One person tumbles and they could take out several people with them. Plus, I would hate having to wait for the line to move so I could move.
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Post by redshoes on May 24, 2019 13:12:58 GMT
It’s really the last place on earth I would expect a long line...kind of like being at Walmart on Christmas Eve, LOL.
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milocat
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Post by milocat on May 24, 2019 13:36:53 GMT
Kind of feels like it defeats the purpose. Mountain climbing should be just a few people alone on the majestic mountain. Looks like the Klondike Gold Rush photos a snake line of people up the mountain.
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on May 24, 2019 13:37:57 GMT
I would never climb up there in the first place, but it seems even scarier with all of those people lined up. From what I read yesterday there was a line just as bad on the other side of the peak.
I remember, years ago, my Dad and I going to the MOS in Boston for an Imax on Everest. It was stunning but that's as close as I will get. They happened to be filming when a well known climber died (Rob Hall) and it was HEART BREAKING to listen to him talking to his pregnant wife knowing he was going to die.
All my Dad could say was what a selfish bastard. She now has to raise that baby alone because he wanted to climb that mountain AGAIN! He was really worked up about it. This guy had summited many times so it's not like this was his first time.
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Deleted
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Dec 4, 2024 21:28:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 13:38:20 GMT
Two things I hate. Cold weather and crowds. Insane heights, hunger and mind-numbing exhaustion aren't up there in my book either. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on May 24, 2019 14:12:55 GMT
I would never climb up there in the first place, but it seems even scarier with all of those people lined up. From what I read yesterday there was a line just as bad on the other side of the peak.
I remember, years ago, my Dad and I going to the MOS in Boston for an Imax on Everest. It was stunning but that's as close as I will get. They happened to be filming when a well known climber died (Rob Hall) and it was HEART BREAKING to listen to him talking to his pregnant wife knowing he was going to die.
All my Dad could say was what a selfish bastard. She now has to raise that baby alone because he wanted to climb that mountain AGAIN! He was really worked up about it. This guy had summited many times so it's not like this was his first time.
Well in fairness it was his job. I don't know that I would be a fan of my husband being an Everest guide - particularly when I was pregnant. But your post made it sound like he was one of the people paying to climb it for the experience instead of being a paid guide. Nepal needs to limit permits - that is just utter insanity and exacerbating a difficult and dangerous experience. Dying from exhaustion because you're stuck in a line for 12 hours is just madness. |
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sassyangel
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Post by sassyangel on May 24, 2019 14:33:37 GMT
It’s been crowded like that, since at least 1996. The amount of people on sections of the mountain at one time, was a contributing factor to the 1996 tragedy. Climbing permits are expensive and people still go in droves. The only way it’s going to slow down is if the Nepalese government (like these Chinese government has) caps the amount of people who can be issued climbing permits, for any one year. And given how much people pay, I’m not sure that will realistically happen.
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sassyangel
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Post by sassyangel on May 24, 2019 14:37:12 GMT
The problem with Everest is, you have a pretty small window of time (relatively) where you can climb it. It’s unclimbable a lot of the year. So when there is a perfect climbing window during a few month climbing season, you get every man and his dog, taking a crack at it on the same day.
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sassyangel
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Post by sassyangel on May 24, 2019 14:39:21 GMT
That picture looks like the ride lines at Disneyland, on a busy summer day. 🙁
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Post by auntkelly on May 24, 2019 14:39:35 GMT
One of the best nonfiction books I ever read was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. There were too many people trying to summit the mountain that day.
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sassyangel
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Post by sassyangel on May 24, 2019 14:49:58 GMT
From what I read yesterday there was a line just as bad on the other side of the peak.
I remember, years ago, my Dad and I going to the MOS in Boston for an Imax on Everest. It was stunning but that's as close as I will get. They happened to be filming when a well known climber died (Rob Hall) and it was HEART BREAKING to listen to him talking to his pregnant wife knowing he was going to die.
All my Dad could say was what a selfish bastard. She now has to raise that baby alone because he wanted to climb that mountain AGAIN! He was really worked up about it. This guy had summited many times so it's not like this was his first time.
Well in fairness it was his job. I don't know that I would be a fan of my husband being an Everest guide - particularly when I was pregnant. But your post made it sound like he was one of the people paying to climb it for the experience instead of being a paid guide. Nepal needs to limit permits - that is just utter insanity and exacerbating a difficult and dangerous experience. Dying from exhaustion because you're stuck in a line for 12 hours is just madness. Exactly. He owned a business that guided people up there. While I’ll agree that high altitude climbing/guiding in general is a somewhat selfishly motivated endeavor, he was there helping someone he was responsible for, who was in trouble. High altitude mountain climbing runs into ethical paradoxes at times. You’re literally up there at the very limits of human survival, breathing a third of the oxygen there is at sea level. While I wouldn’t put myself in that position in the first place, especially having a family, I don’t feel comfortable kind of Monday morning quarterbacking specific situations like that without all the facts, either. And never having been in that situation myself. |
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Post by auntkelly on May 24, 2019 14:50:56 GMT
To me (who would also never do it) it almost would defeat the purpose to be following the pack up...... Apparently, there is a lot of litter on the summit as well. I read the climbers just toss their empty air tanks on the mountain. Apparently, there are empty tanks all over the summit. |
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Post by scraphollie27 on May 24, 2019 15:04:13 GMT
One of the best nonfiction books I ever read was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. There were too many people trying to summit the mountain that day. It is one of my favourite books and I found it way more thrilling than the movie. |
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Post by Merge on May 24, 2019 15:19:00 GMT
I admit I judge those people hard. There's something like a 10% chance of dying on Everest, depending on your age. If you've got a spouse and kids at home, that seems to me an unacceptable risk to take for the "thrill" or a badge of honor or something. Go do something that actually benefits the world instead of just your own selfish self.
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luvnlifelady
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Post by luvnlifelady on May 24, 2019 16:17:36 GMT
I saw the movie but never understood the appeal. It is remote, expensive, you're probably hungry/thirsty, tired and it's hard to breathe. Not my idea of fun, especially expensive fun. There's also a decent chance of dying. No thanks but kudos to those that make it.
If I was near the top after all that and found this kind of line, I'd be pissed. It would really ruin the serene, magical hike for the relatively short distance left.
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Post by gar on May 24, 2019 16:30:43 GMT
That's nuts.
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MizIndependent
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Post by MizIndependent on May 24, 2019 16:34:17 GMT
Didn't know it was possible to get claustrophobic in such an open area but...here we are. Yikes! That does not look like any kind of fun I want to be part of.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on May 24, 2019 16:39:42 GMT
Like others have said, it was his job. He made a lot of questionable choices but I don't think he was selfish. They just led an expedition to bring litter down from Everest last month. They brought down 3 tons of trash. The goal is to collect 10 tons of trash from the mountain this season. I think there was an effort last year as well but obviously, it continues to be a huge problem. Tibet closed the base camp to anyone with a climbing permit this year because they can no longer keep up with the impact of so many people. I think they are just giving too many permits and have had no long range planning and not enough rules on the mountain. I understand the competing interests at play but nobody, not the governments, climbing companies or the locals, are doing a good job managing Everest related tourism. |
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stittsygirl
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Post by stittsygirl on May 24, 2019 16:48:37 GMT
One of the best nonfiction books I ever read was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. There were too many people trying to summit the mountain that day. I’ve read this book three times. It’s tragic. It appears they haven’t learned from those mistakes and limited the amount of people allowed on the mountain  . |
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Deleted
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Dec 4, 2024 21:28:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 16:51:13 GMT
My DH even gave up motorcycle driving until the kids are in college because he feels that the kids are millions of times more important than biking. I'm grateful he thinks this way.
"Accident Rates. The NHTSA reports that 13 cars out of every 100,000 are involved in a fatal accident, but motorcycles have a fatality rate of 72 per 100,000. Motorcyclists are also at a greater risk of a fatal accident per mile traveled."
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Post by mrssmith on May 24, 2019 17:09:24 GMT
Scary!
I can't imagine what it would feel like to get up there and see that many people ahead of you!
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on May 24, 2019 17:11:08 GMT
dominos anyone?
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sassyangel
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Post by sassyangel on May 24, 2019 20:30:04 GMT
Scary! I can't imagine what it would feel like to get up there and see that many people ahead of you! Right, and how hard it would be to make the choice to turn around and go back, having spent your life savings to get there, like some people. Personally, I think that would be the smart choice, but I can see why it’s not one people always make. Combined with the fact that even mild fact altitude sickness, impairs your judgement. |
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PLurker
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Post by PLurker on May 24, 2019 21:04:04 GMT
I just shared this with my kid last night.
Who knew there'd be a traffic jam on Mt Everest?!
I know I've heard there's a lot of hikers certain times of years but the visual put it over the top for me. (no, thanks)
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Post by ntsf on May 24, 2019 22:19:23 GMT
My dad knows several people who have climbed everest.. including several who were at the 1996 disaster.. into thin air was good.. but also it was from one viewpoint and left stuff out.
the window to climb peaks "in the death zone". maybe only a few weeks in may.
I climbed glaciated peaks when I was young.. and it was thrilling and hard work and I'm glad I did it. at 14,000 ft.. I really felt the altitude. the best climbers are willing to turn around when it is a plan or needed. it is not who gets to the summit but who gets down. that is the hard part.. the mental game of it.
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Post by birukitty on May 24, 2019 22:39:38 GMT
One of the best nonfiction books I ever read was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. There were too many people trying to summit the mountain that day. Me too. It started my interest in Mt. Everest and the climbers who climb it. It was so well written that it felt as though I was there actually climbing the mountain. My father and I who are the adventurous ones in the family even fantasized about doing the climb together after he read the book too. Of course we never had that kind of money. I wonder if the book and/or the film is what helped to lead the popularity that made the climbing take off to what it is now-a huge traffic jam up to the summit? I'm shocked by the photo that is posted with this thread. I never thought I'd see it like this. Even if the climb was free today there is no way I'd want to climb it like this. I imagine it's much more dangerous now with other climbers packed in so tightly next to each other. How would you ever get down if you decided to turn around? |
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ellen
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Post by ellen on May 24, 2019 23:46:36 GMT
One of the best nonfiction books I ever read was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. There were too many people trying to summit the mountain that day. I could not put that book down. I started it on a Friday night and had it finished by Saturday afternoon. There are also too many inexperienced climbers who can afford the climb, but they have no business being up there. |
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