I'd rather see Nepal ban fixed ropes and yank the ladder off the Hillary Step, but that'd kill the whole industry.
Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
21–30 of 135 posts
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#22As someone with some mountaineering experience in North America, I am really surprised to hear that they ever allowed this in the first place. Of course, one could argue that govt shouldn't have any power over what an individual can do, but the same people who argue for that liberty also ask govt to go search when someone goes missing in the mountains. And you can only search for so many people. I think it is reasona…
This regulation is for foreign climbers. I don’t think people expect full personal liberty in a foreign country.
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's already more than a few bodies up there now. Some are a little famous, like the green boots guy. The bodies can't be removed. It's such an extreme environment. You can't really rescue people who are in trouble. At best, with multiple climbers, you can have someone else tell you that you shouldn't proceed, which might save your life. But if someone is already in trouble, you can't really help out, or you will…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle I bet you could design helicopter that would be able to repeat this with much less effort
Yes, I’m sure it really is that simple.
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
I haven’t read the current rationale but one thing I’ve read is that Everest is _crowded_. This is OK when everything is moving along ok, but when something goes wrong it can be catastrophic for the climbers in front and behind you. I imagine it’s likely that solo climbers have higher incidents of accidents on Everest than group climbers. As far as why waste money.. if you are asking that question in earnest there’s…
It's not just a waste of money. Climbing Everest, even with oxygen, produces permanent brain damage.
Interested in this, where did you read/hear this?
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#25It's unfortunate that world-class alpinists such as Kilian Jornet -- who recently summited Everest solo, in 26 hours, without supplemental oxygen, after training his ass off for years [1] -- won't be able to attempt such a challenge again (unless I'm missing something).
There has to be a better solution to the problem mentioned in the article.
[1] https://www.outsideonline.com/2187266/kilian-jornet-summits-...
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#26Why not sell individual permits and make it so expansive that it covers the rescue?
Rescues above 7000m aren't really an organized affair. When I traveled to the Himalayas I carried rescue insurance and it specifically excluded any efforts above 7000m. When you hear about attempts made to save people at high altitude it's typically opportunistic rescues or folks going back for their friends.
When Scott Fischer was stricken, his friend Anatoli Boukreev climbed up to him with oxygen. Same with Francys Arsentiev, her husband Sergei went back for her and died. On K2, Ger McDonnell attempted a solo rescue of three incapacitated Korean climbers. It isn't like there's a strike force of Reinhold Messner clones waiting at Base Camp ready to run up and pluck tourists off the mountain.
Edit: Hell, rescue below 7000m or 2000m isn't guaranteed. Back in 2009 one of my friends turned around on Aconagua just before the summit due to weather. During her descent she passed an ascending party. That group got disoriented and trapped by the storm. By the time rescuers reach them four days later two climbers were dead or dying.
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's already more than a few bodies up there now. Some are a little famous, like the green boots guy. The bodies can't be removed. It's such an extreme environment. You can't really rescue people who are in trouble. At best, with multiple climbers, you can have someone else tell you that you shouldn't proceed, which might save your life. But if someone is already in trouble, you can't really help out, or you will…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle I bet you could design helicopter that would be able to repeat this with much less effort
That chopper was stripped to the bone so that one dude could fly in it, with a fuel time of 1 hour. It also landed on the summit which is more flat. Don't think it would be easily and safely able to carry an addition (dead) body that's probably perched on an incline, let alone carry rescuers. It takes upwards of 6 hours to chip the dead body off the ice (if it's been frozen there for a while)
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#28Killian Journet just ran to the top twice, solo. No supplemental oxygen. Looks like his record will stand.
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle I bet you could design helicopter that would be able to repeat this with much less effort
Yes, I’m sure it really is that simple.
It's not a question of it being simple it's a question of ROI the market would be too small. If you read the article this was done using stock Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel.
Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest
#30As someone with some mountaineering experience in North America, I am really surprised to hear that they ever allowed this in the first place. Of course, one could argue that govt shouldn't have any power over what an individual can do, but the same people who argue for that liberty also ask govt to go search when someone goes missing in the mountains. And you can only search for so many people. I think it is reasona…
> but the same people who argue for that liberty also ask govt to go search when someone goes missing in the mountains
It's two distinct groups. If there is overlap there'll likely be ideas like fining someone after a rescue unless they have insurance, & then leaving it up to insurance companies to decide about solo climber coverage