"Lots of dead or dying bodies. Thought I was in a morgue."...

[LKD]

chilling words of encounter from Sandra Leduc, a Canadian attempting to reach the Everest summit... Sadly another Toronto woman trying to summit, died over the weekend from not heeding to warnings from Sherpa guides. Everest ain't a piece of cake. I remember reading the book "Into think Air", a true story based on a tragic accident up on the everest in the mid 90's. It sent chills down my spine.

Reading Sandra Leduc twitter comments is both humbling and chilling.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/05/23/everest-death-warnings.html

http://twitter.com/#!/sandraclimbing

http://www.sandraleduc.com/blog/

Anyone ever think of trying to climb Everest or would do it given the chance? Top physical condition is just one of the hurdles... Lack of oxygen in the region termed 'death zone', unpredictable weather that could turn the region pitch dark in a matter of minutes, over-crowding, avalanches are just a few of the challenges on Everest.

 

[LKD]

 

[checks]

They showed some interesting footage yesterday on the national. Upwards of 300 people were all attempting to climb Everest when that woman died a few days ago. It was basically a big line of people all in single file. Looked hilarious, actually. Kind of seems like there isn't really as much prestige anymore.

All you need is to be in somewhat decent physical shape, and have serious cash. So you can join some expedition team. That Toronto woman trained by walking around all day with a 25kg pack on. Then she mortgaged her house for 100,000. And then she died on Everest. Just because something is doable, doesn't mean it should be done.

I mean really, if someone told you they "climbed" Everest, would you really be impressed? It isn't like they did any of the hard work themselves. All you need to do is get your ass to base camp, acclimatise yourself for a few months and then follow the lemmings up the road. Especially considering all the fancy gear they get to use. It almost makes me appreciate even more how hard it was for Hilary and Norgay.

OK, done ranting now.

 

[LKD]

They showed some interesting footage yesterday on the national. Upwards of 300 people were all attempting to climb Everest when that woman died a few days ago. It was basically a big line of people all in single file. Looked hilarious, actually. Kind of seems like there isn't really as much prestige anymore.

All you need is to be in somewhat decent physical shape, and have serious cash. So you can join some expedition team. That Toronto woman trained by walking around all day with a 25kg pack on. Then she mortgaged her house for 100,000. And then she died on Everest. Just because something is doable, doesn't mean it should be done.

I mean really, if someone told you they "climbed" Everest, would you really be impressed? It isn't like they did any of the hard work themselves. All you need to do is get your ass to base camp, acclimatise yourself for a few months and then follow the lemmings up the road. Especially considering all the fancy gear they get to use. It almost makes me appreciate even more how hard it was for Hilary and Norgay.

OK, done ranting now.

ah true.. A hell lot more people could climb it if $$ was of no concern. Apparently you need to pay a ridiculous permit fee to climb it. It certainly isn't anywhere as hard these days with the lines already setup, porters who carry almost all of your luggage and cook for you there, all the advanced gear available today to protect one from the elements etc etc, not unlike the days of Hilary and Norgay.. Its just not real mountaineering anymore.. There was a time when one had to be skilled in this like a scientist.. I read some up there don't even know if their crampons fit properly, let alone have survival skills when things start going wrong.

I guess the only thing impressing climbing Everest today is doing it like some of the Sherpas, without the help of any oxygen tanks and in record speed xD

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

People that feel the need to climb some stupid mountain really need to find another way to deal with their midlife-crisis

 

[rld]

Everest is not what it used to be, it is close to a freakin' highway. It has been done by amputees, a 73 year old woman, a blind guy I think and the numbers of people who summit is huge.

If I was into mountain climbing, and I am not, I think there are other mountains that I would be much more interested in.

 

[69Shooter]

I remember reading the book "Into think Air", a true story based on a tragic accident up on the everest in the mid 90's. It sent chills down my spine.

Great book!

 

[Cardinal Fang]

Everest has become a tourist destination for people with financial means at their disposal. We shouldn't be surprised when things like this happen and will continue to happen.

 

[friedrice]

Easy to condemn her, easy to ridicule those whose egos point them towards the biggest trophy in their adventure case, but in the end, is sitting home at your computer and slinging arrows a better way to live?

 

[Aardvark154]

Several articles I've read mentioned that it is considered dangerious if you haven't summited by 11:00 a.m. (in terms of being able to make it back down to camp three before nightfall and out of the death zone) and that Ms. Shah-Klorfine was still waiting to summit after 2:00 p.m.!

 

[blackrock13]

The government have talked for years saying they would limit the number and raise the qualifications of the climber, but I guess at $30k to $70k for each climber, money wins out again. I'm not against helping local economies through 'industries', as I've explained in posts on hunting, but there are. Unfortunately too many die because of this greed and stupidity. It wasn't stupidity that had people lining up for two hours for the last approach, but it is stupidity when they don't follow their guides advice to turn around.

Her choice to go against her Sherpa's advice doesn't make this death any less tragic. I have no doubt she would have succeeded in any career she'd have chosen and make a difference.

 

[friedrice]

Wtf! How dare you!

I am checking TERB from Camp 3 Starbucks. Free wifi. Any reviews on the Camp 3 Craigslist girls?

To summit will be expensive. And risky. And cold. And empty inside.

 

[flyingwood]

Some locals are very much against mountain climbing. I remembered when some mountaineer tried to climb Khawa karpo, local Tibetan prayed to the mountain god to kill those climbers.

 

[danmand]

It is strange to realize that there are serious (2 hour waits) traffic jams on Mount Everest. Sir Edmund would have shaken his head in disbelief.

 

[69Shooter]

Wtf! How dare you!

I am checking TERB from Camp 3 Starbucks. Free wifi. Any reviews on the Camp 3 Craigslist girls?

Sorry rub, I couldn't find links to the actual CL ads (hell, there may not even be any) but, here are 3 hotties that have climbed Everest.

 

[blackrock13]

Easy to condemn her, easy to ridicule those whose egos point them towards the biggest trophy in their adventure case, but in the end, is sitting home at your computer and slinging arrows a better way to live?

I'm not sure condemnation is the point, as she did train and prepare as best anyone could, and I doubt a trophy in her showcase was her point of doing it, but she did make a fatal choice. In the climbing world, that particular climb is not even the most challenging, the west approach is more difficult, and a neighbour K2 takes the title, but it does add to your CV.

 

[blackrock13]

It is strange to realize that there are serious (2 hour waits) traffic jams on Mount Everest. Sir Edmund would have shaken his head in disbelief.

He did many times when he spoke of it and did lay a lot of the blame on the governments

 

[blackrock13]

Some locals are very much against mountain climbing. I remembered when some mountaineer tried to climb Khawa karpo, local Tibetan prayed to the mountain god to kill those climbers.

You can't please everyone. I wonder if the climbers were Chinese. Did their prayers work. I suspect the local Nepalese are less radical.

 

[danmand]

He did many times when he spoke of it and did lay a lot of the blame on the governments

To be fair, it is hard for the governments to regulate it, because the weather is so unpredictable. They cannot give a permit for a specific day. The weather this year has been lousy, so many climbers have been waiting for a chance to hit the summit. When it comes to life threatening activities, common sense is necessary.

 

[blackrock13]

To be fair, it is hard for the governments to regulate it, because the weather is so unpredictable. They cannot give a permit for a specific day. The weather this year has been lousy, so many climbers have been waiting for a chance to hit the summit. When it comes to life threatening activities, common sense is necessary.

All true, but you can give out only a certain number of permits perseason and raise the minimum standard for climbers, which is stupidly low.