[IronJack]

Beck Weathers is a testament to the incredible durability of the human spirit. On the trip that cost him so many body parts, he lay unprotected overnight on the mountain with his face in the snow, then awoke the next morning and walked back into camp.

A lot of people died that season.

Read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." Incredible stories.

[HandyDandy]

Yes, that is an amazing read. Beck Weathers figured prominently. Just as you say, left for dead twice. Didn’t he keep trying to indicate to his rescuers that his wristwatch was strangling his hand (and he ended up losing that hand?)

[cherry]

what I took from "Into Thin Air" was that too many richyriches with time to spare and egos to pamper were allowed to buy into expeditions, and the expeditions are costly and they need those dollars....thus, unprepared, inexp. people crowded out, or delayed other hikers....

timing is everything in high mt climbing...