Dying Brit climber 'too big' to rescue off Everest (the REAL story)

Star Times ^ | 6/13/06

[palmer]

I realize your hypothetical could be true. My question is, did the climbers call down about him on their way up as they first stated on Australian TV, or is the version of the story posted in this thread correct? They can't both be correct.

[WKUHilltopper]

When I want something from you, I'll just rattle your cage...thank you.

[beebuster2000]

double amputees and blind people dont usually do it either, but its been done. why not fat?

[Mr. Brightside]

Agreed. There is a "difference in recollection."

[Texas2step]

My question is, did the climbers call down about him on their way up as they first stated on Australian TV, or is the version of the story posted in this thread correct?

From reading both accounts, I wonder if the following is what happened:

The team is climbing up, and someone sees "Frost-bit Brit" and they radio down for instructions. The expi leader assumes that they have seen "Mr. Green Boots" based on the description of the location and tells them to continue.

On the way down it is determined that the man they saw is not "Mr. Green Boots" but "Frost-bit Brit" and they do a more thorough evaluation to determine if a rescue is possible.

After noting the weather conditions, condition of the team, and the condition of "Frost-bit Brit" it is determined that they could not effect rescue.

That's the only thing I can think of which can explain the two "different" stories.

[BluH2o]

... double amputees and blind people dont usually do it either, but its been done. why not fat?

High end guide services, charging in excess of $40 thou per individual ascent, practically hand hold these individuals during the climb. However, in spite of the money involved, guide services require perspective climbers to have verifiable climbing experience and be in reasonably good health. Fat people typically don't meet that criteria, additionally fat people suck up a lot of oxygen which is in short supply above 15,000 ft ... requiring H20 bottles, which have to be carried up to the base camps.

[Ditter]

What I read said they did not notice him on the way up. It was snowing and foggy and they had their hoods and goggles on. He was in some kind of a cave and laying on top of the body of a climber who froze in 1996. I think when they did see him at first they thought he was the person who died in 96. Tragic but when you decide to do something as dangerous as mountain climbing you should realize you might not come back. I wish I was in the kind of physical shape where I could even entertain the idea of mountain climbing. Alas, I am not.

[stylecouncilor]

You are ignorant.

[Zhang Fei]

[Tragic but when you decide to do something as dangerous as mountain climbing you should realize you might not come back.]

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I think it’s also essential to have a fallback plan. People need to know you’re in trouble to help you. That means you need to prep some kind of SOS indicator. This guy crawled into a cave like a wounded animal. Nobody figured out he was in trouble until it was too late.

[Larry Lucido]

sparked a storm of controversy led by Sir Edmund Hillary

Wow, this thread is a blast from the past.

Apropos of something, Sir Edmund Hillary will be (or would have been ) 100 on July 20 of this year. He was alive when this thread was started.

Apropos of nothing, the OP was an original Seinfeld ping list member.

[Jim Noble]

There are no rescues from that high.

[Nachoman]

So, have the other climbers started splitting up his gear?

[Larry Lucido]

It was twelve years ago.

[Larry Lucido]

Correction: 13 years ago. The other climbers may be dead from their own subsequent attempts.