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I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

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11–20 of 48 posts

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#11
I really feel sad for these sherpas that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home.

I suggest the book "Into Thin Air" (and the movie version "Everest") if you want to know more about how the commercial side of Everest climbing works (and about a really sad tragedy).

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#12

Then: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger" Adventurers, explorers, inventors: "The risk is worth the reward. We must push the boundaries of human reach and understanding further" Now: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger. But not because the a…

Someone downvoted you, but ,you are, indeed, correct in you assessment. This is the depressing reality.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#13

I really feel sad for these sherpas that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home. I suggest the book "Into Thin Air" (and the movie version "Everest") if you want to know more about how the commercial side of Everest climbing works (and about a really sad tragedy).

I feel really sad for the bitter people who call others losers for enjoying things they don’t enjoy or can’t do.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#14

Then: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger" Adventurers, explorers, inventors: "The risk is worth the reward. We must push the boundaries of human reach and understanding further" Now: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger. But not because the a…

What's the difference between "rich conceited asshole doing it for ego" and "adventurer doing it for humanity"? At the end of the day there's no practical benefit, only that person's experience.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#15

Then: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger" Adventurers, explorers, inventors: "The risk is worth the reward. We must push the boundaries of human reach and understanding further" Now: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger. But not because the a…

[deleted]

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#16
post #14

Then: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger" Adventurers, explorers, inventors: "The risk is worth the reward. We must push the boundaries of human reach and understanding further" Now: " is really dangerous. Very few people have done it. It requires a lot of capital, and your health and life may be in danger. But not because the a…

What's the difference between "rich conceited asshole doing it for ego" and "adventurer doing it for humanity"? At the end of the day there's no practical benefit, only that person's experience.

The adventurer is supposed to be doing something worth accomplishing ie a first or an important feat. Doing it for the 100th time makes you the rich asshole even if the #1 guy was a rich asshole too at least he was proving something.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#17

I really feel sad for these sherpas that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home. I suggest the book "Into Thin Air" (and the movie version "Everest") if you want to know more about how the commercial side of Everest climbing works (and about a really sad tragedy).

> I really feel sad for these sherpa that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home.

Do you climb mountains? It's hard to explain the motivation if you don't do it yourself. Most people I know who have done big climbs are not trying to impress their kin. George Mallory answered the question why with "Because it's there." That's still about the best answer.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cost is on the order of ~$50,000. That's not a whim purchase for most people, and probably out of reach of e.g. the lower 50% of US incomes, but for a huge number of people it's an achievable amount if climbing Everest is your lifetime dream.

This is more like “rich westerners chasing FOMO feels”. I have a hard time supporting politically that we owe deference to a minority experiencing shallow novelty and calling them life dreams, given the externalized costs foisted on society as a whole. There are peaks closer and the difference in sensory experience is marginal. This is just “more money than I can spend so I’ll shovel it a little at everything.” Which…

It's more that Everest is the highest peak in the world. If there was another mountain 10m higher than Everest, Everest would get 5-10% of the traffic it currently does.

How many people know the second highest mountain in the world? It's K2, most people have at least heard of it. How about the third highest? Kangchenjunga. Never heard of it, had to Google it.

So for people who want a recognizable achievement, Everest is pretty much the top. Not just in climbing, but any physical achievement. Unless Nepal restricts the number of climbers, it will only get worse.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#19
post #13

I really feel sad for these sherpas that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home. I suggest the book "Into Thin Air" (and the movie version "Everest") if you want to know more about how the commercial side of Everest climbing works (and about a really sad tragedy).

I feel really sad for the bitter people who call others losers for enjoying things they don’t enjoy or can’t do.

They are losers because they try to emulate things that someone did before them at the risk of their life and enduring unimaginable hardships in that case, but using every modern means possible to make the climb a few orders of magnitude easier (sherpas or guides placing oxygen canisters all around for them or literally dragging people up the mountain when they can't stand it anymore but hey they paid for it) just to brag about it.

Personally I don't care about doing it this way and I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it how real mountaineers do. I'm not bitter, I just think that what they are doing is a farce.

Kudos to those that attempt the ascent after years of real training and knowing what they do.

Re: I’ve Climbed Everest 21 Times. It’s Not the Mountain It Used to Be

#20

I really feel sad for these sherpas that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home. I suggest the book "Into Thin Air" (and the movie version "Everest") if you want to know more about how the commercial side of Everest climbing works (and about a really sad tragedy).

> I really feel sad for these sherpa that have to work as care givers for these unprepared losers from the west (most of them seem to be) that just want to impress their kin back home. Do you climb mountains? It's hard to explain the motivation if you don't do it yourself. Most people I know who have done big climbs are not trying to impress their kin. George Mallory answered the question why with "Because it's there…

That's not the kind of people I'm referring to, I was talking about unqualified "climbers"[1], like those cited by John Oliver or some of those of the Rob Hall expedition.

[1]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147998/Mount-Evere...

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