4 Dead on Mt. Everest

They just had the 1st fatality of the year on Denali too.  Apparently he fell at about 16,200 while trying to grab a backpack that was sliding away.  From what I've heard it's actually a more difficult climb than Everest, much more technical.

I read that the guy who canceled his trip of taking the 60 clients did so because there has been less snowfall than normal the past few years on Everest and again this year so the ridges are now covered in ice and exposed rock which is much more dangerous.

Well this makes me feel a little better about his decision making and motives.  I'm sure there are a lot of expeditions that will go without thinking twice about the conditions before the monetary motives.  

I haven't read about the climber in Denali.  That is unfortunate and sad.  I also have heard from other climbers it is much more technical.  

Everest has been a fascination of mine for a while too.  i'm not a climber but i really enjoy reading about people's experiences there.  one thing is always consistant when i read....trash and crowd.  everyone always mentions the trash everywhere and leftover O2 containers.  and they always mention how croweded base camp is.  they say it's like a city of tents and gear.

It was Russell Brice from Himilayan Expeditions.  He is the one who was featured in the Discovery Channel series.  He cancelled way before any of the fatal summit attempts were made

Read his blog here

I think he was the only resposnible leader on the mountain this season.

I spent an afternoon at base camp while on a trek.
Not a very comfortable place, but pretty interesting to visit.

I'm not a climber.
Hard core climbers I did meet on that trip were doing some
spectacular technical climbs in the region that had nothing to do with Everest.
I can see how if you're a dedicated climber
you'd want to return to that region year after year. 

I think there's one member on this board who's summited Everest, if I remember correctly. 

you're not going to work that into a global warming thing?  

j/k (from what I understand that's what they attribute it to)

I've always been fascinated with it too.  I agree though that it loses a bit of it's luster with all the abuse it's taking and just sheer numbers number of visitors.  When I get out I don't like for 50 people to be with me.

There are plenty more technical mountains than Everest.  Everest is just the tallest, that's all.

Climbing Mt. McKinley is quite an accomplishment.
Congratulations! 

Here are a couple peaks in the Khumbu region that I understand require technical skill,
but do not have the cache, or the resultant expense and commercialization as does Everest.
Ama Dablam
Pumori
Nuptse

I know there are many more.

The Khumbu Valley is the most beautiful place I've ever been.
Indescribable.
The people are even more beautiful.

I recommend a trip there to any climbers.

The story from Everest is sad.
I can understand how the fever would get the best of people
and cause them to make bad decisions.
 

closest I got to Denali:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/3666:866919375209/jpeg/BG

i want to climb but want to live too...sigh...

I have way more desire to climb Mt McKinley then Everest.  I have zero desire to actually climb Everest.  It is a pretty big accomplishment but one you can almost pay for now.  Now, go attempt K2 and report back please.    Rainier is the highest I have been.  I cannot get authorization to climb McKinley.

Tragic.

I once worked with a Doc who did a lot of climbing and I am always impressed with the rigors of mountain climbing.

Shoot, I would JUMP at the chance to summit K2! Unfortunately my mountaineering days are limited, especially since the only thing to do around here right now is some bouldering and a few climbs!  Gosh it has been almost 15 years ago now since my McKinley expedition with my cousins.  I missed my opportunity to do Ranier due to weather conditions on the mountain the last time I was up that way visiting family.  We had it all planned, but fell through! 

I don't know if I'd enjoy climbing everest-

but I know I'd enjoy the training part of it,

and all the cool gear.

Climbing it is on my bucket list.  Nice pic...

Only $25,000?  Last I saw they were generally in the $65,000-$75,000 range, plus equipment, travel, and tips (only if you survive).

When I was stationed in Alaska, my friend and I would take trips down to denali and find smaller peaks to climb up and then I would snowboard down and he would ski. (He was training for his climb up Mckinley.) I never had any dreams to climb huge mountains and ride down but Transworld Snowboarding had an awesome article on Marco Siffredi who died while snowboarding down Everest. Siffredi climbed peaks all over the world and would snowboard down. How crazy is that? There is a picture of him on the summit of Everest in his full climbing gear and snowboard gear. It is the last picture ever taken of him but it is a jaw dropping picture. If you have time you should check out the article on transworld snowboarding.

Found the picture of Siffredi right before he took his final descent.

(marco-151new.jpg)

Well, altitude is what makes it difficult.  And the main reason people become an issue up there is that many lose their ability to think clearly when deprived of oxygen and make silly mistakes or make dumb decisions.  Also they get summit fever, not turning back when they should have.  And if someone is struggling and folks end up behind them everyone suffers in that case as it gets single threaded up there.  Summit fever has caused many a death on many mountains, not just Everest, but up there you put others at risk when it happens