Know what? I went sailing today and while I was cruising along, I had a flashback which prompted me to think: “I’m glad that damned Everest thread is over!”
Thanks, Goose, just when it was headed to oblivion, you resuscitate it. Love ya, babe!
To review, I’ve climbed three 8,000-meter peaks and a semi-sick assortment of, um, “lesser” peaks. Not Everest. Know what? Nowhere do I remember “walking” at high-altitude. Read all the books you want, but they will never give an accurate flavor of climbing up high. BTW, I’m sure this will cause controversy, but I also think blind people (flanked by a team of aides) should generally stay off 8,000-meter peaks. His successful climb smacks of a cheap publicity stunt (not an empowering act, IMO) and was an insult to the mountain, as is the other commercializing of the past 15 years. Blame Dick Bass, if you will.
A few random thoughts: there are many routes up Everest. Peak baggers unconcerned with style almost always take the Standard Route that wends one up along the Lhotse Face, through the South Col and up the S.E. summit ridge. (IOW, Hilary’s Route). Nowhere did I say this is a technically demanding route. What I did say, and I was quoting a friend who is a world-renowned climber in this, is that although K2’s standard route is more difficult (and more hazardous), the sheer height of Everest makes it appallingly difficult–especially WITHOUT OXYGEN. I also said mountains cannot be easily compared like baseball statistics. I think my answers have been consistent. Everest’s Standard Route is not like climbing Trango Towers. (Check out a picture of THAT mother.)
If you care to learn more, Duck, come with me next spring to G4. My tent holds two.
[opinion]I agree with TS that there are apparently many more challenging and elegant climbs than Everest. It is also disgusting how littered and damaged that fragile ecosystem has become from all the macho peak-baggers, some of whom are not real climbers at all but pay others to do most of the work. I don’t mean to diminish the servere difficulty and danger of such high-altitude climbing for anyone. It’s certainly NOT a walk in the park. Krakauer’s account was controversial, but it is an interesting read and a good description of the absurd commercialism, money and ego involved in Everest bagging.[/opinion]
I was glad this was over too (and thanks for the apology, Tsunamisurfer), but I (hesitantly) will point out that my initial view seems to have been validated–the altitude of Everest is what makes the challenge.
[sub]Best to let this thread drop to oblivion, before someone pairs “mountain” and “molehill” in the same sentence… :)[sub]
“hypoxic”?
[opens new window]
[checks M-W]
[um, okay…]
Well, I’m sorry guys, but I thought I was making a “let’s blame irresponsible journalists who over-simplify everything” point. I understand perfectly well that it’s very difficult to climb any mountain, and I thought it was interesting (not really the right word, but…) to come across that “Everest’s a walk in the park” mindset elsewhere, besides Johnson’s post.
I most definitely was NOT trying to make a “Johnson’s absolutely right, my Women’s Missionary Society ladies could summit Everest in their Sunday shoes” point.
Okay then.
And FTR, the sum total of my mountaineering experience is that a few years ago I climbed all the way up to the top of Sleeping Bear Dune in Michigan. Now, that was a climb, let me tell you, and you can’t use ropes, neither, you wusses.
The important points to be carried away from this thread are (a) mountains cannot be easily compared and (b) as there are many routes of varied difficulty up/down mountains, blanket categorizations are not advised.
BTW, I’ve heard people actually say “my grandma could bicycle up Mt. Hood.” Maybe. But a couple routes are quite difficult and granny would be well advised to bring her pro.
I see Duck Duck Goose has mastered the art of hyperbole.
I also understand very well that it’s difficult to climb any mountain.
By the way, members of my church’s Women’s Missionary Society wear crampons on Sundays. Oh, wait a minute…rather, they use the Crampon Bible. Nevermind…
