Yes it does, several corpses were taken down as part of those efforts.
Here’s a follow-up article. Ueli is (with justification) clearly not a happy camper.
Nah, a couple of winters back the lift attendants at our local ski hill started duking it out, while we skiers self-loaded.
I can see the next reality show:
COPS - Mount Everest
If I become a multi-billionaire I’m flying old people to the top of Mt Everest to act as Walmart greeters.
Crowded trails, garbage filled camps, permanent ropes and installed ladders, Sherpa guides, imported foods, expensive gear, and giant egos!
That’s what ‘climbing Everest’, is now all about. Anyone who tries to maintain otherwise is deluding themselves.
Would it make me sound weird if I said what I came away from the article with more than anything else was a genuine curiosity to hear the sherpa side of the story?
Should add “huge fees”. Most folks on Everest are customers of a guide service, paying something like $60,000 per person.
This includes a substantial permit fee: The government of Nepal is concerned that only qualified climbers be allowed past Base Camp - and you are deemed qualified once you have paid $10,000 - 25,000 to the government.
I get how these might all be objectionable things, but what’s the beef with Sherpa guides?
Sorry, no beef with Sherpa guides whatsoever, I promise!
I haven’t had a chance to read through this yet, but it purports to be the POV of the Sherpa Guides. http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2013/04/30/everest-2013-the-sherpas-viewpoint/
Face it…its now time to set up a ski lift…Everest is now a theme park.
Sounds like a misunderstanding…All expedition leaders and Sherpa Sirdars were invited and attended a meeting in Everest base camp to discuss the rope fixing strategy for this season on Everest. At this meeting everyone had a chance to suggest the best strategy and route to safely climb the mountain. The meeting concluded with the nomination of fixing Sherpas (the best available) and the suitable dates to complete the work. It was also agreed at the meeting by all the expedition leaders that nobody would be climbing on the route on these dates except the fixing team. That while these young men were working to fix the route for all expeditions at base camp, no expedition would disrupt or create a distraction for them. Unfortunately, Simone Moro did not attend this meeting, and might not have been aware that this protocol is an unwritten rule on Everest.
I lean towards supporting the Sherpas. They’ve been making a living do this work for several generations. They know Everest better than anyone. Interfering in critical work setting the ropes isn’t going to go over very well.
Whereas threatening to kill someone - and (apparently) taking steps in that direction - is a fine idea?
Work on Mt Everest can be life or death. That’s why the Sherpas needed a day to set the ropes without anyone else up there. If the report above is accurate thats been the rule on Everest for a long time. Imagine a NFL game starting while the grounds crew is still mowing the field. Tempers might flare and thats not even dangerous compared to Mt Everest.
The response got out of hand and the ringleaders responsible are being investigated.