[LoveUSA]

For some reason I am fascinated by mountain climbing and have read every book I can get my hands on about climbing adventures.

Would never be able to do it. Even if a Sherpa carried me the whole way on his back. (some people have summited that way)

Worst part: the stricken and helpless are often left for dead.

[Sherman Logan]

Worst part: the stricken and helpless are often left for dead.

Generally speaking, the conditions on the summit push are so close to the edge of survival that it is not generally possible to launch rescue operations.

Also, people who have spent all that time and money to get to the summit ridge aren't anxious to abandon all that to help somebody in trouble. :)

[dfwgator]

There’s over 200 bodies still up in the “Death Zone”. Some are still relatively well preserved.

That alone would creep me out enough to not even want to try.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Even if a Sherpa carried me the whole way on his back. (some people have summited that way)"

Okay, I'll make an exception and say those people are scumbags. And kudos to the sherpas who carried them and all sherpas in general. I've trained with Nepal Ghurkas and they were some tough guys. Made out of the same mold as these sherpas are I'm sure.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

" Even if a Sherpa carried me the whole way on his back. (some people have summited that way)"

I just realized, if the people that went up on a Sherpa's back are disabled and can't do it, those people are not scumbags. Only those able bodied ones that may have done this.