# There are suprisingly few descriptions of the summit of Everest **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576 "2018-05-21T18:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/1 "2018-05-21T18:40:29Z")
Alexa tells me more than 4100 people have been to the top of Everest. But I can’t find any descriptions of the summit on line. [ul] [li]How big is the summit?[/li][li]What is the basic shape?[/li][li]How level is it?[/li][li]How many people can stand or sit there are one time?[/li][li]How cold?[/li][li]How windy?[/li][/ul] Surely out of 4100 people there were at least a few writers. I would think some of them would have shared a detailed description of the top of the world. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/2 "2018-05-21T19:17:25Z")
[Google Earth](https://earth.google.com/web/@27.98840078,86.92529874,8822.41854915a,127.67701617d,35y,156.31352546h,59.99818218t,-0r) isn’t your friend? I never realized how rapidly the north and west faces dropped off. Actually until now I never bothered to think of looking at it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/3 "2018-05-21T19:30:17Z")
Jon Krakauer did a decent job of describing it in _Into Thin Air_. Good read no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/4 "2018-05-21T20:04:57Z")
I think most people are too focused on drawing their next breath to pay much attention to details around them. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/5 "2018-05-21T21:27:22Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I think most people are too focused on drawing their next breath to pay much attention to details around them. Oh that’s not true. They take [tons](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uLrCtvtErdErrbkVgraXW7M58tWFPZvfh3FWJa96hvjvOy-7OlZAGukpXK16rlInrjwbP-1e7cdSUMvOHZ3Y) of [photos](https://cdn.hispantv.com/hispanmedia/files/images/thumbnail/20180117/02362931_xl.jpg). Just most of the photos[give no context](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/NVPgQw0vAmtHxxUapPVhetiJsbI=/1200x0/filters:quality(80)/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EIL43QCU5NAFFOYQ6QL22SXYXA). [It’s covered in trash.](https://alanmallory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Summit-of-Everest.jpg) [And there’s a Starbucks.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/15243341552_3817ee9465.jpg)🙂 [Panorama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5wl9RHqqQ) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/6 "2018-05-21T21:53:04Z")
Most of the books written are about the tortures of going up and coming back down, with most of the geological descriptions limited to the obstacles encountered. I’ve read a number of them, harrowing all. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/7 "2018-05-21T21:57:52Z")
I know it’s big enough to [land a helicopter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle) on it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/8 "2018-05-21T22:10:32Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I think most people are too focused on drawing their next breath to pay much attention to details around them. My future memoir: \*\*Cold. Damn. Gotta get back down. Before dark. Man, it’s cold. This way down. Base Camp. Ah… Beer. -30- \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/9 "2018-05-21T22:30:42Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I know it’s big enough to [land a helicopter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle) on it. Ain’t that some shit? Then I guess its big enough for the top of the ski lift. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/10 "2018-05-22T00:30:38Z")
Same can be said fot the Great Pyramid. It is flat on top, because they were the easiest blocks to dislodge and remove. A flat surface about the size of a bedroom. There is patchy grass, a few little shrubs, rowing up there. I don’t think they let people climb up there anymore. https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.9786885,31.1345197&z=20&output=embed&dg=ntvb&q=The%2BGreat%2BPyramid%2Bat%2BGiza ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/11 "2018-05-22T06:44:07Z")
Who else grabbed Street View Man? ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/12 "2018-05-22T06:53:33Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ain’t that some shit? > > Then I guess its big enough for the top of the ski lift. 😉 [Obligatory video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-8DLUc5iJg) ---
**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 22, 2018, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/13 "2018-05-22T06:55:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Jon Krakauer did a decent job of describing it in _Into Thin Air_. Good read no matter what. I came here to say this, too. Loved the book, I’ve read it about 6x. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/14 "2018-05-22T11:37:09Z")
> [@PoppaSan](#): > > [Google Earth](https://earth.google.com/web/@27.98840078,86.92529874,8822.41854915a,127.67701617d,35y,156.31352546h,59.99818218t,-0r) isn’t your friend? I never realized how rapidly the north and west faces dropped off. Actually until now I never bothered to think of looking at it. Oddly enough I was surprised at how level the other slopes are, perhaps because most of the summit pictures were taken from them and toward the dropoffs. I had assumed the top was the only place one could stand comfortably but the pictures show others standing casual-ish on the lighter slopes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/15 "2018-05-22T12:37:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Same can be said fot the Great Pyramid. It is flat on top, because they were the easiest blocks to dislodge and remove. Not for the alien spaceships to land on? I’m so disillusioned. ---
**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 22, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/16 "2018-05-22T13:13:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Not for the alien spaceships to land on? I’m so disillusioned. I think Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa are up there. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/17 "2018-05-22T13:33:47Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Same can be said fot the Great Pyramid. It is flat on top, because they were the easiest blocks to dislodge and remove. A flat surface about the size of a bedroom. There is patchy grass, a few little shrubs, rowing up there. I don’t think they let people climb up there anymore. > > [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Great+Pyramid+at+Giza/@29.9786885,31.1345197,59m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x14584587ac8f291b:0x810c2f3fa2a52424!8m2!3d29.9792345!4d31.1342019) I was just there a couple of months ago. No, they don’t let tourists climb up the Pyramids any more. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/18 "2018-05-22T13:56:03Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > Who else grabbed Street View Man? Guilty! 😃 Interesting photo of the trash at the top. Does it just blow away every year or does it freeze and get “stuck” there? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-suprisingly-few-descriptions-of-the-summit-of-everest/814576/19 "2018-05-22T18:20:10Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > I was just there a couple of months ago. No, they don’t let tourists climb up the Pyramids any more. A buddy of mine did it recently, it only took a $100 bribe to the locals. Many ‘forbidden’ attractions work on the same policy 🙂