Everest: At least 186 dead in 35 years
Sunday May 28, 2006
Climbers attempting to reach the summit of Mt Everest have always faced the risk of death in the process. As attempts on the summit have become more frequent, so have instances of people encountering dangerous situations.
At the same time, advances in climbing technology, as well as increased knowledge of Everest and the dangers it poses, have enabled climbers to reduce their likelihood of dying while attempting to climb to the highest point on earth.
Below is a list of successful attempts on the summit of Everest by year, compared with deaths suffered on the mountain.
1969 — SUMMITS: 0, DEATHS: 1
1970 — SUMMITS: 4, DEATHS: 8
1971 — SUMMITS: 0, DEATHS: 1
1972 — SUMMITS: 0, DEATHS: 1
1973 — SUMMITS: 10, DEATHS: 1
1974 — SUMMITS: 0, DEATHS: 6
1975 — SUMMITS: 15, DEATHS: 2
1976 — SUMMITS: 4, DEATHS: 1
1977 — SUMMITS: 2, DEATHS: 0
1978 — SUMMITS: 25, DEATHS: 2
1979 — SUMMITS: 18, DEATHS: 6
1980 — SUMMITS: 10, DEATHS: 3
1981 — SUMMITS: 5, DEATHS: 1
1982 — SUMMITS: 18, DEATHS: 11
1983 — SUMMITS: 23, DEATHS: 3
1984 — SUMMITS: 17, DEATHS: 8
1985 — SUMMITS: 30, DEATHS: 7
1986 — SUMMITS: 4, DEATHS: 4
1987 — SUMMITS: 2, DEATHS: 4
1988 — SUMMITS: 50, DEATHS: 10
1989 — SUMMITS: 24, DEATHS: 8
1990 — SUMMITS: 72, DEATHS: 4
1991 — SUMMITS: 38, DEATHS: 2
1992 — SUMMITS: 90, DEATHS: 5
1993 — SUMMITS: 129, DEATHS: 8
1994 — SUMMITS: 51, DEATHS: 5
1995 — SUMMITS: 83, DEATHS: 3
1996 — SUMMITS: 98, DEATHS: 15
1997 — SUMMITS: 85, DEATHS: 9
1998 — SUMMITS: 120, DEATHS: 4
1999 — SUMMITS: 117, DEATHS: 4
2000 — SUMMITS: 146, DEATHS: 2
2001 — SUMMITS: 182, DEATHS: 5
2002 — SUMMITS: 159, DEATHS: 3
2003 — SUMMITS: 264, DEATHS: 4
2004 — SUMMITS: 330*, DEATHS: 7*
2005 — SUMMITS: Being calculated, DEATHS: Being calculated
Total — SUMMITS: 2249 and counting, DEATHS: 186
Data from www.everesthistory.com.
And still they come.
Compared to these numbers the American space program is an unqualified success.