Mt Everest

[BikerDude]

Went and got hooked on that show "Everest Beyond the Limit" on Netflix.
It gets addictive the way it leads up to the big summit push each season.

Now I'm reading "Into Thin Air". Great Book.
http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0385494785/
If I wasn't so old and out of shape I swear I'd be thinking of really doing it.
Of course 60 grand for license and equipment is pretty steep.

Some guys "Home Vid" of his expedition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SV7eA5XORQ&feature=related

Guy doesn't make it.
He turns around at the second step which is where you have to step out onto a little overhang above an 8000 foot drop and climb onto a fixed ladder. That's north side ascent. South side is not as difficult but has the Kumho Ice fall. Were most of the death have occurred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBJMGNSql4

[milnie]

My old boss had his honeymoon at base camp. They had a great time but the place is like a trash dump. If you ever go, take a black bag and take yours and someone else's rubbish away with you :)
In fact, I think that's now the law.

[BikerDude]

My old boss had his honeymoon at base camp. They had a great time but the place is like a trash dump. If you ever go, take a black bag and take yours and someone else's rubbish away with you
In fact, I think that's now the law.

It's been cleaned up.
Including hauling a lot of the dead bodies off the mountain.
Now part of what you pay is for hauling off everything including sewerage.
They have become very strict about cleaning up.

The big thing is that you need to be there for at least 3 weeks just to acclimate to the altitude.
Long process of going up and coming down, going a little higher each time till eventually you push up to high base camp then push for the summit.
It takes a lot of supplies. That's a big reason why most people pay one of the big companies to take care of logistics. You can get simply a permit to climb it from the Chinese for around 20 grand. But it would be nuts to try it without all the support.

[milnie]

Think I'll stick to climbing the stairs ;)

[karmatso]

I've been to the basecamp a couple of times during my trips through Tibet. It has changed a lot over the years.

Yes, they are making a real effort at cleaning things up, which is long overdue. There are only two real windows for getting to the summit, one in spring and one in fall. There are so many people trying to climb it, that they literally have traffic jams up there when the weather clears up enough to attempt the summit. It has become a real circus. Instead of qualified mountaineers who are climbing for the love of the sport, you are getting tourists who have a big enough bank account. And $20,000 doesn't even begin to cover all the expenses. Most people wind up paying $50,000+ for the privilege of standing on the summit for a few minutes. I'm not saying that in an angry way, I would do it myself in a heartbeat if I had the capability and the money. I have had a thing for Mt. Everest for a very long time.

Most people die on the way down. Everest is not even the most dangerous mountain to climb.

It is spectacular to see from close up though. And if you ever happen to fly into Kathmandu, it looks incredible from the air.

[BikerDude]

I've been to the basecamp a couple of times during my trips through Tibet. It has changed a lot over the years.

Yes, they are making a real effort at cleaning things up, which is long overdue. There are only two real windows for getting to the summit, one in spring and one in fall. There are so many people trying to climb it, that they literally have traffic jams up there when the weather clears up enough to attempt the summit. It has become a real circus. Instead of qualified mountaineers who are climbing for the love of the sport, you are getting tourists who have a big enough bank account. And $20,000 doesn't even begin to cover all the expenses. Most people wind up paying $50,000+ for the privilege of standing on the summit for a few minutes. I'm not saying that in an angry way, I would do it myself in a heartbeat if I had the capability and the money. I have had a thing for Mt. Everest for a very long time.

Most people die on the way down. Everest is not even the most dangerous mountain to climb.

It is spectacular to see from close up though. And if you ever happen to fly into Kathmandu, it looks incredible from the air.

Yes. Hillary said the same thing before he passed.
I'm betting that sadly the mountain will once again punish us little humans for our hubris.
We are becoming over confident and sending up lots a lots of people that don't have any business there.
There will be a major league tragedy on Everest one of these years.
Even bigger than the last one in the 90's. The book "Into Thin Air" tragedy.

[milnie]

I remember going up Ben Nevis and almost all the way to the top we were in a queue.