Posted on 05/22/2023 2:20:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
I’ve watched the documentaryies. The latest climbers are no more qualified to climb Everest than me, and my tallest climb was a 12 foot ladder.
Once you get above 8000 meters you’re in the death zone.
from wiki
In mountaineering, the death zone refers to altitudes above a certain point where the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span. This point is generally tagged as 8,000 m (26,000 ft, less than 356 millibars [10.5 inHg; 5.16 psi] of atmospheric pressure).[1] The concept was conceived in 1953 by Edouard Wyss-Dunant, a Swiss doctor, who called it the lethal zone.[2] All 14 peaks above 8000 m in the death zone are located in the Himalaya and Karakoram of Asia.
Many deaths in high-altitude mountaineering have been caused by the effects of the death zone, either directly by loss of vital functions or indirectly by wrong decisions made under stress, or physical weakening leading to accidents. An extended stay above 8,000 m (26,000 ft) without supplementary oxygen will result in deterioration of bodily functions and death.
Green boots.
Most likely the do not that got them was, do not allow the battery to get too cold, a la electric cars.
Cerebral edema, a very unpleasant way to go. Freezing to death is more peaceful.
““Suzanne Leopoldina Jesus, from Maharashtra, was on a mission to become the first Asian woman on a pacemaker to scale Mount Everest.””
One of many reasons I stopped reading National Geographic many years ago. The magazine became filled with stories on the first paraplegic, etc. to reach the South Pole, plus Climate Change, Climate Change, Climate Change, Climate Change, etc.
My brother reached the summit of Mt. McKinley. Although it’s about two miles lower than Everest, it is difficult to climb, and he was the only member of his team to get to the top. It can only be climbed a few weeks of the year.
I’ve read several books on the ascent and attempted ascent of Everest, and it seems to me a lot of folks who make the attempt have no business doing so. Bad stuff can happen when the unqualified make such attempts. Hell, even the very qualified can run into trouble, as the mountain is an unforgiving bitch.
Given Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level when you cross over the 26,000 ft level and enter this death zone you still have 3000 more vertical ft to climb in the thinnest air on the planet while still touching terra firma.
They Said It Could Not Be Done - By Benny Hill
They said that it could not be done,
He said, “Just let me try.”
They said, ‘Other men have tried and failed’,
He answered, ‘But not I.’
They said, “It is impossible,”
He said, “There’s no such word.”
He closed his mind, he closed his heart...
To everything he heard.
He said, “Within the heart of man,
There is a tiny seed.
It grows until it blossoms,
It’s called ‘The Will To Succeed’.
Its roots are strength, its stem is hope,
Its petals inspiration,
Its thorns protect its strong green leaves,
With grim determination.
“It’s stamens are its skills
Which help to shape each plan,
For there’s nothing in the universe
Beyond the scope of man.”
They thought that it could not be done,
Some even said they knew it,
But he faced up to what could not be done...
.....And he couldn’t bloody do it!
Darwin Award convention.
Getting to the base camp at around 17,500 ft can probably be done by most people in good physical condition, but the last camp before attempting the summit is around 26,000 ft. I can’t imagine most unqualified people making to that level much less the summit.
Into Thin Air was one of the most gripping books I read.
I saw a National Geographic documentary some years ago about two British accomplished mountain climbers, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine who tried to summit Everest without oxygen and perished. It was 1924.
Fast forward to 1999, and an expedition was mounted to find them. They expected to find Irvine, but found Mallory instead. They covered what was left of him with stones, and took personal effects to forward to his family.
They were hoping to find Irvine, because he had a camera on him which could possibly provide some information about wether or not they had actually summited the mountain, some 30 years ahead of Sir Edmond Hillary and his guide.
A fascinating, and tragic, story.
Damn that’s funny.
The “Into Thin Air” story continues. That mountain is VERY good at killing people.
Impressive. 🤡
I’m reminded of the frozen woman in K2 movie 🎥
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.