The Inexcusable Travesty of Mt. Everest

brianlux
brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
edited May 2019 in A Moving Train
Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni

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Comments

  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,422
    I believe its actually beyond 10 with a majority dying on the descent from  altitude sickness.
    Too many are leaving too late for the final push to the top.
    Too many are taking too long to get up there because of the overcrowding .
    Too many taking too much time at the top.
    Too many not able to get down fast enough because of the overcrowding. 

    Just remember no one is forced to be there. Not even the Sherpas of which I think only one has died this year.
  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,437
    bodies will be left. at least they are biodegradable. once the climate has changed enough that is...

    the rest of the trash left isnt.....
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  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    9 dead this week alone and they issued a record number of permits this climbing season...it's pure greed on one side, and ego's on the other side...as long as Nepal and China don,t come whining to the west to pay for the environmental damage... their mountain, their problem...
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Meltdown99 said:
    9 dead this week alone and they issued a record number of permits this climbing season...it's pure greed on one side, and ego's on the other side...as long as Nepal and China don,t come whining to the west to pay for the environmental damage... their mountain, their problem...
    Their mountain?  I suppose.  But it's hard for me to think of anyone "owning" something beautiful (or once was beautiful) in nature.  But then I don't think anthropocentrically.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    What is so beautiful about a mountain full of human shit, garbage and dead humans?
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Meltdown99 said:
    What is so beautiful about a mountain full of human shit, garbage and dead humans?
    From up close, nothing.  From afar, plenty:

    And of the eight-thousanders, Makalu...

    ...or K2 I think are more beautiful:


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,422
    20 deaths this year.....


  • vaggar99
    vaggar99 San Diego USA Posts: 3,431
    edited May 2019
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    ah...to be rich, adventurous and dumb.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    vaggar99 said:
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    ah...to be rich, adventurous and dumb.
    No kidding!  I can think of SO many other places I would rather go, things to do.  These are people with too much money, too much "conquer the world" style ego, and FAR too little respect for the natural world.  I would love to see China and Nepal put a ban on climbing that mountain.  Give to back to the Buddhist Monks to look up to and honor from below- like it once was.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • mickeyrat
    mickeyrat Posts: 44,437
    brianlux said:
    vaggar99 said:
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    ah...to be rich, adventurous and dumb.
    No kidding!  I can think of SO many other places I would rather go, things to do.  These are people with too much money, too much "conquer the world" style ego, and FAR too little respect for the natural world.  I would love to see China and Nepal put a ban on climbing that mountain.  Give to back to the Buddhist Monks to look up to and honor from below- like it once was.
    important source of revenue for nepal. and the sherpas.
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    this could be in the Idiot Thread.

    Human idiocy knows no bounds.

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    mickeyrat said:
    brianlux said:
    vaggar99 said:
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    ah...to be rich, adventurous and dumb.
    No kidding!  I can think of SO many other places I would rather go, things to do.  These are people with too much money, too much "conquer the world" style ego, and FAR too little respect for the natural world.  I would love to see China and Nepal put a ban on climbing that mountain.  Give to back to the Buddhist Monks to look up to and honor from below- like it once was.
    important source of revenue for nepal. and the sherpas.
    Absolutely, Mickey. It's very cool and I'm all for it, if done right.  Everest might help some of the locals but it's more about lining the pockets of rulers while desecrating a sacred Buddhist site.

    Helping those people the right way is not easy.  It takes a lot of guts, a strong knowledge and understanding of the people, places, and the politics of these areas, a good strong sense of diplomacy, and a certain amount of luck. 

    I've mentioned this book here before but it's an excellent book written by someone who has done it right, Steve Swenson's Karakoram; Climbing Through the Kashmir Conflict:





    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,663
    Smellyman said:
    this could be in the Idiot Thread.

    Human idiocy knows no bounds.

    Good call!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,373
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    Brian, have you visited Nepal? Extreme levels of corruption and poverty likely make it difficult for the Nepali government to shift their priorities, as frustrating and defeatist as it is to say that. They need this income. They lack skills, resources, education, and most importantly, quality leadership. I’m not saying this kind of negligence should be permitted, but I’m saying that it’s unrealistic to expect change from within. This is a country that desperately needs leadership help.
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
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  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,422
    brianlux said:
    Smellyman said:
    this could be in the Idiot Thread.

    Human idiocy knows no bounds.

    Good call!
    As a rock climber and occasional mtn climber I'm going to dispute this.
    However,  what is currently happening on Everest is a conflagration of multiple things. Kind of like a perfect storm...
    Too many permits issued by both China and Nepal.
    Too small a window of good weather in which to make summit attempts.
    Too many "high-altitude " tourists.
    Too many expidition companies trying to make all their money in one short season 
    Etc etc

    Please keep in mind that this is not necessarily an annual or daily occurrence. Two days before the viral images of the high altitude traffic jam of more than 200 climbers trying to summit was taken, 14 climbers summited.
    This is also not a new thing. During the 2012 climbing season  on May 19, 2012 247 climbers summited in one day. Don't  think anyone died that day.

  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,814
    benjs said:
    brianlux said:
    Twenty two years after the publication of John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, the telling of the several death on Mt. Everest due, at least in part, to overcrowding on the mountain, Everest is still plagued by lines of Disneyland like tourism.  This is a travesty!  The death toll on Everest this month so far is now 10.






    Brian, have you visited Nepal? Extreme levels of corruption and poverty likely make it difficult for the Nepali government to shift their priorities, as frustrating and defeatist as it is to say that. They need this income. They lack skills, resources, education, and most importantly, quality leadership. I’m not saying this kind of negligence should be permitted, but I’m saying that it’s unrealistic to expect change from within. This is a country that desperately needs leadership help.
    Sounds familiar.
    Make Nepal great again!

    This is an example of greed and ignorance...sad for those left behind.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,631
    I have no pitty for the people who have died there they all know the dangers of the climb ! The government should institute a ban for at least 5 yrs and only allow climbers who will clean up the mess period ..you wanna climb clean the mountain for a season and then you get to climb again your name gets on a list ...
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,422
    josevolution said:
    I have no pitty for the people who have died there they all know the dangers of the climb ! The government should institute a ban for at least 5 yrs and only allow climbers who will clean up the mess period ..you wanna climb clean the mountain for a season and then you get to climb again your name gets on a list ...
    I feel I need to come on here and defend mountaineering. There is a concerted effort to clean up and keep the mountain clean. Leaving the bodies is based on tradition and safety issues. 

  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,814
    Isn't it a safety issue that people who are not experienced enough are allowed to climb/get permits?
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,422
    F Me In The Brain said:
    Isn't it a safety issue that people who are not experienced enough are allowed to climb/get permits?
    It is a major safety issue.
    They are often referred to  as "high-altitude tourists"

    I for one would love to make an attempt on Everest.
    I have mountaineering experience,  I do well at high altitude,  I understand the ins and outs, rights and wrongs of mountaineering. But have yet to do anything close to an 8,000er (mountain above 25,000 ft above sea level). I don't  have enough experience to make such an attempt without risking my life and that of others on the mountain. Wish others did the same.

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