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Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#121

Post by qaq »

jsmthrowaway wrote: post #115
qaq wrote: post #15

Earlier 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

The rotor would have to be enormous and fast, and the helicopter incredibly light with very little payload. One or both of those constraints are probably beyond our materials knowledge, particularly a controllable rotor that would work. Passenger jets are fine up there because they haul ass, often north of Mach 0.7-0.8, and push as much of the thin air as possible over the wing. (One of the cool things about commerci…

The above link the dude did it 2 days in a row on a stock stripped down helicopter. If you had tolerance for higher cost you can make a much lighter version replacing parts with composites, titanium etc. and modding the engine to work better at high altitude.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#122

Post by crimsonalucard »

whatever_dude wrote: post #116
InclinedPlane wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everest is the worst example of mountaineering. For many it's just an achievement, not an experience, not something that's worthwhile on its own merits. And in that light it makes it more obvious why so many people fall into the trap of tackling it unprepared. Many people don't understand how challenging it can be and they think that if they just struggle through and be miserable for a few days they'll come out the o…

I can't speak for climbers from other countries, but I feel that the American attitude towards achievements like "climbing mountain X" is that they want exactly that, a checkmark on a list. They want to get in and get out as fast as possible. The destination is the goal, and everything in between is just noise that should be overcome as swiftly as possible. This is, at least, my anedoctal experience. I go hiking recr…

Coincidentally, Nepal is one of the best places to trek in the world, thanks in part to the natural beauty and tea houses located everywhere. It's worth it just to visit base camp.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#123

Post by imiller »

jdietrich wrote: post #95
deepGem wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The racing analogy might have some flaws. Seat belts and helmets are for protection, they don't aid you in driving. Ice axes and supplemental oxygen aid you in climbing. You could very well climb without them. They are not safety devices. Seat belt is by definition a safety device which will save your life in case of a high speed accident. I think the only seat belt equivalent is the climbing rope.

Traditional rock climbers use their ropes and equipment as both a fall-arrest system and a means of ascent. Sport climbers only use their ropes as a fall-arrest system and sometimes and a means of resting on the rock. The same can be done with ice axes - they're a vital means of arresting a fall, regardless of whether you use them to ascend. If you're determined to climb into the death zone without supplemental oxyge…

If you go on Oxygen, you basically want to have enough to get you down to camp. The effects of coming off Oxygen can be totally debilitating. There are also advantages to climbing without Oxygen if you have the proper physiology, mainly you don't have to worry about carrying g it or running out. Anatoli Boukreev's book about the 1996 Everest disaster is very insightful. Among other factors climbers running out of Oxygen contributed to the scope of that disaster. It's a fascinating read.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#124

Post by crimsonalucard »

basicplus2 wrote: post #4

Why ban solo climbing? If an idiot wants to do something stupid, why interfere with natural selection? And why waste money looking for them?

Why stop a little baby from crawling off a cliff? Why not let natural selection take its course? Grow up.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#125

Post by jonknee »

whatever_dude wrote: post #116
InclinedPlane wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everest is the worst example of mountaineering. For many it's just an achievement, not an experience, not something that's worthwhile on its own merits. And in that light it makes it more obvious why so many people fall into the trap of tackling it unprepared. Many people don't understand how challenging it can be and they think that if they just struggle through and be miserable for a few days they'll come out the o…

I can't speak for climbers from other countries, but I feel that the American attitude towards achievements like "climbing mountain X" is that they want exactly that, a checkmark on a list. They want to get in and get out as fast as possible. The destination is the goal, and everything in between is just noise that should be overcome as swiftly as possible. This is, at least, my anedoctal experience. I go hiking recr…

There are peak baggers from all over the world, it's not an American phenomenon. I got a nice tip the last time I was hiking in Colorado: ignore the 14ers and go for the just unders. 13,950 feet has the same views and sense of accomplishment, but with no peak baggers.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#126

Post by fergie »

golergka wrote: post #90
fergie wrote: post #57

If you haven't read them already, I really recommend the following two books: "Into Thin Air" by John Krakauer was the first book to critically explore the "Death Zone" and the state of mountaineering on Everest generally- It was written in 1997, but is just as relevant now. "Dark Shadows Falling" by Joe Simpson is another commentary on the state of mountaineering on Everest in 1997. Simpson was famously left for dea…

> he brings a keen insight into the morals of high-altitude climbing from the point of view of the "one that was left behind" I got curious and read a wikipedia article about the book; from the summary, I don't see any special "morals" about the incident: one mountaineer had a reason to believe another one dead and saved himself, without knowingly leaving anyone behind. Is wikipedia summary incorrect?

You should read the book.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#127

Post by SirZimzim »

totalZero wrote: post #120
whatever_dude wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't speak for climbers from other countries, but I feel that the American attitude towards achievements like "climbing mountain X" is that they want exactly that, a checkmark on a list. They want to get in and get out as fast as possible. The destination is the goal, and everything in between is just noise that should be overcome as swiftly as possible. This is, at least, my anedoctal experience. I go hiking recr…

This seems like a pretty broad generalization, deriving an entire culture's adventure sport habits from a hill hike with friends. Not saying you're wrong, not saying you're right. For me, it takes a little more to characterize 300+ million people.

I've lived in a few countries and I'd say the whole constant need to be first or ahead of others is definitely a characteristic among Americans.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#128

Post by macspoofing »

alexfoo wrote: post #93
paulcole wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like there’s doubts that Kilian submitted at all. Personally, I think he did, but as of now there’s really no proof. http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=8591724 Edit: Why downvote this? Is there any evidence Kilian submitted beyond his word?

KJ responded to one article with summit photos plus other evidence (which he doesn't want published yet). https://iancorless.org/2017/12/10/kilian-jornet-everest-spee... (I didn't downvote you, but it's worth doing a bit more research before making a statement like that.)

There's nothing wrong with some skepticism. This guy seems legit but nobody gets a pass.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#129

Post by whatever_dude »

totalZero wrote: post #120
whatever_dude wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't speak for climbers from other countries, but I feel that the American attitude towards achievements like "climbing mountain X" is that they want exactly that, a checkmark on a list. They want to get in and get out as fast as possible. The destination is the goal, and everything in between is just noise that should be overcome as swiftly as possible. This is, at least, my anedoctal experience. I go hiking recr…

This seems like a pretty broad generalization, deriving an entire culture's adventure sport habits from a hill hike with friends. Not saying you're wrong, not saying you're right. For me, it takes a little more to characterize 300+ million people.

I did say it is anedoctal, but to make it more clear: this was not from just "a hill hike with friends". This is my experience from years hiking with these and other friends in the US, noticing their behavior (and those of other people in the same trails) on both the West and East coast, and contrasting it to the behavior seen in comparable trails outside of the US. After a while it starts feeling more like a common pattern, instead of an isolated thing.

Re: Nepal bans solo climbers from Mount Everest

#130

Post by hprotagonist »

whatever_dude wrote: post #129
totalZero wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems like a pretty broad generalization, deriving an entire culture's adventure sport habits from a hill hike with friends. Not saying you're wrong, not saying you're right. For me, it takes a little more to characterize 300+ million people.

I did say it is anedoctal, but to make it more clear: this was not from just "a hill hike with friends". This is my experience from years hiking with these and other friends in the US, noticing their behavior (and those of other people in the same trails) on both the West and East coast, and contrasting it to the behavior seen in comparable trails outside of the US. After a while it starts feeling more like a common…

hikers and alpinists are totally different breeds, though.

The americans writing articles for the AAC journal or evening sends or whatnot are not peak-baggers.

conversely, the grade-seekers of 8a.nu are primarily european.

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