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The cold world of skimo & alpine climbing

The cold world of skimo & alpine climbing

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Pornography?

You know when you see it....




http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/30/everest-mountaineer-crowding-hobby-tragedy

3 comments:

Tim said...

I am beginning to think that Nepal should make Everest off-limits for a few years, and let the folks there clean the mountain and the base camps up.

Bruno Schull said...

I agree. One possibility would be to sell spots on expeditions to clean up the mountain. I would much rather go to base camp, or higher camps, and carry bottles and other rubbish down, as part of a group doing the same, than go for the summit. It would just feel better, and would offer a more interesting mountain experience. That's just about the only kind of Everest experience I would ever sign up for, if I had the money (which I emphatically do not!). And I guess that's the problem: with the money that the expeditions bring to the governments, and the local communities, will we, or can we, see real change? Unlikely, and thus somewhat depressing. For every small, progressive, interesting expedition to clean up the mountain, it seems there will be 20, 30, 40 ready to push for the summit at any cost. I wish there was a greater long term alternative perspective.

Chris Warner said...

More importantly, read this article about a person in that crowd's experience going to the summit, be sure to read the comments.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/may/28/mount-everest-ethical-dilemma

Sadly not only will strangers climb past those in need, but then read about the Polish team on Broad Peak this winter that worked together to get to the summit, but it was every man for himself on the descent (in good conditions). Two make it, two don't. What ever happened to partnership?
http://explorersweb.com/everest_k2/news.php?id=21351

Choose your partners as if your life depends on it, because it does.