# Everest: Just Don't Do It **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397 "2016-05-22T21:31:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/501 "2023-05-21T17:43:10Z")
I am afraid another last. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/502 "2023-05-21T20:18:04Z")
A former Gurkha soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan has reached the top of Mount Everest, making mountaineering history. > **[Double amputee climber makes history on Mount Everest](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mount-everest-gurkha-afghanistan-nepal-british-b2343059.html)** > > A veteran has become the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest And … afaik, he’s still alive ! (but, then, he’s a Gurkha) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/503 "2023-05-21T20:50:32Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > the first Asian person trying to make it to the top with a pacemaker. > [@Dorjan](#): > > When you’ve got to get THIS nitpicky with “firsts”, it’s probably time to find other lofty pursuits… Who will be the first person without any new defining characteristics whatsoever to summit Everest? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/504 "2023-05-21T21:04:59Z")
It’ll probably be done today. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/505 "2023-05-21T21:05:29Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Who will be the first person without any new defining characteristics whatsoever to summit Everest? But then that is itself a defining characteristic! We can only conclude that all climbers must have some unique characteristic, because if they didn’t have one, they’d earn one by virtue of being the first to not have one. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/506 "2023-05-21T21:25:31Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > We can only conclude that all climbers must have some unique characteristic I don’t know, being the 1729th person doesn’t seem so special. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/507 "2023-05-21T21:31:11Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > A former Gurkha soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan has reached the top of Mount Everest, making mountaineering history. > [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mount-everest-gurkha-afghanistan-nepal-british-b2343059.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mount-everest-gurkha-afghanistan-nepal-british-b2343059.html) > And … afaik, he’s still alive ! (but, then, he’s a Gurkha) - He didn’t climb Mt. Everest, Mt. Everest bowed down to him. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/508 "2023-05-22T01:00:01Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The Himalayan Times must struggle for headline stories outside of the April-May Everest climbing season. > > “No Deaths On Everest This Week” > > “Sherpas Prepare For Next Climbing Season” Yeah but when yeti Season kicks in during November the HT really gets going. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/509 "2023-05-22T07:52:11Z")
Maybe they’ll be the first to summit in a taxicab 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/510 "2023-05-22T12:00:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Mt. Everest bowed down to him. Ah yes. That’s feasible. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/511 "2023-05-22T15:43:54Z")
It is good to prepare for this arduous climb. > **[Drunk Kick streamer collapses in bar hours before climbing Mount Everest -...](https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/drunk-kick-streamer-collapses-in-bar-hours-before-climbing-mount-everest-2152706/)** > > Kick streamer imjoel3004 had one too many drinks the night before he attempted to climb Mount Everest, the tallest place on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/512 "2023-05-22T16:58:15Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Maybe they’ll be the first to summit in a taxicab 🙂. Maybe I’ll be the first to summit Everest that gets this reference! Narrator: “He wasn’t” ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/513 "2023-05-23T00:52:12Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > And … afaik, he’s still alive ! (but, then, he’s a Gurkha) well - 70% of him are … ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/514 "2023-05-23T04:29:31Z")
A good summing up of the season so far: > **[Climbers Are Dying on Mount Everest at an Alarming Rate](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/everest/mount-everest-fatality-rate-ten-climbers/?scope=anon)** > > The 2023 death toll on Everest has already reached double digits—with multiple people still missing. And the climbing season isn’t over yet. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/515 "2023-05-23T05:10:19Z")
There’s GOT to be a maximum capacity that the mountain can support via the south col route. Same goes for the north route. I wonder what those daily numbers are, under ideal conditions? I’m more familiar with the south route, which is the more popular route. The route from the south col up to the south summit, Hillary Step, and on to the summit is only so big. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/516 "2023-05-23T05:43:26Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > There’s GOT to be a maximum capacity that the mountain can support… They should increase the price of a permit to $100k for the standard easy routes that the chumps are doing, and set a mandatory pay structure for Sherpas that’s 3 times what they get now. The Sherpas could earn the same or more from working less time, and with less risk taking smaller groups. It’s not like this is something where “everyone should have the right to do it even if they are not rich” really carries much weight. It’s getting so stupid that the two objectives should be to cut the numbers down dramatically while protecting the interests of the locals - which means fewer richer people. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/517 "2023-05-23T06:38:51Z")
It is getting so stupid. You’re spot on with that. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/518 "2023-05-23T12:35:24Z")
> **[Everest death toll reaches 11, two still missing](https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/everest-death-toll-reaches-11-two-still-missing)** > > A support staff of the Mt Everest expedition died at Camp II on May 21, taking season’s death toll to 11, officials said. At least two foreign climbers are still missing in the high camps of Mt Everest. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/519 "2023-05-23T12:41:30Z")
Take out all the steps. Everest has become an extreme low oxygen hike & stair climb. There’s little to no actual climbing involved anymore. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397/520 "2023-05-23T13:13:29Z")
Is anyone really impressed by someone mentioning, ‘I’ve climbed Everest!’, like they must have been, once upon a time? I’m certainly not. If you were just into remarkable views, enormous personal challenge/accomplishment, the awesome cultures of Nepal, etc, you WOULDN’T be climbing THIS mountain. You’d much more likely be climbing any number of other nearby challenging mountains. You’ll be in the garbage dump of overcrowding that is basecamp. Your entire climb will be in a long slow moving queue, passing bodies of the dead left on the mountain. No matter how you have imaged your quest and achievement, for me these things would completely destroy any of the joy of accomplishment, the fitness challenge (as mentioned tons of secured ladders, stairs, ropes) aspect, and certainly any ‘specialness’, you may have imagined. And it will cost you tens of thousands of dollars, and some unlucky/foolish few, their lives. I have been to Nepal twice. A spectacular place, amazing cultures, I’ve done some trekking in the mountains. But nothing about Everest appeals. I’m looking for a very personal experience, that a crowd, would definitely destroy for me. And, to be honest, my opinion of those seeking/achieving this goal, is not of the ‘daring adventurer with the iron will’, variety of days past. Much closer to, ‘more money than brains’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everest-just-dont-do-it/755397.md?page=27)