Everest

About 7 years ago I saw a special on TV about Mt. Everest and was amazed that people actually pay up to $40,000 to climb it and risk their lives. I was in awe of this mountain and decided to pick up a book about the deadliest expedition on the history of the mountain.

Into Thin Air - By Jon Krakauer - This book details the deadliest day in the history of Everest. 15 people died on May 10, 1996, including 2 very experienced climbers leading the expedition, Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. Jon Krakauer was on this expedition on an assignment for OUTSIDE magazine. It was found that an analysis of weather conditions on that day suggested that freak weather caused oxygen levels to plunge by around 80%.

This is a first hand account, and a wonderfully sad story (if that makes any sense) but it is worth the read if you are looking for something new to read.

Mount Everest is the highest point on Earth, as measured by the height of its summit above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Nepal and China. [via wikipedia] The activity of the regions plate tectonics actually increases Mt. Everest about 4-6 millimeters every year. The current elevation is listed at 8,848 meters (29,028 feet). It is a beautiful site, in my opinion. I have always been interested in geography and mountains, so I guess I am a geek in that aspect. It is just amazing that something that has death written all over it, inspires people to climb it just "because it is there" - as quoted by George Mallory, in 1923, a year before he would die on the mountain. His body was not found until 1999. It is not known if he successfully made the summit. Edmond Hillary and Tenzig Norgay are credited as the first people to summit Mt. Everest in 1953.

Well I was watching Discovery this weekend and saw they have a new series on called "EVEREST: Beyond the Limit" In this series, Discovery Channel documented Mount Everest summit attempts by climbers in veteran guide Russell Brice's expedition, who is based on the mountain's northern face, in Chinese-controlled Tibet. This 2 month span in April and May of 2006, became known as the deadliest climbing season on record.

FACTS:

• As of the end of the 2004 climbing season, 2,238 people had reached the summit (1,148 of them since 1998) and 186 people died while summitting. The conditions on the mountain are so difficult that most of the corpses have been left where they fell (estimated 120 bodies still on Everest); some of them are easily visible from the standard climbing routes.
• Most expeditions use oxygen masks and tanks above 26,000 feet (8,000 m); this region is known as the death zone. Everest can be climbed without supplementary oxygen but increases the risk to the climber. Humans do not think clearly with low oxygen, and the combination of severe weather, low temperatures, and steep slopes often require quick, accurate decisions.
• Mountain climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Nepal; they range from experienced mountaineers to relative novices who count on their paid guides to get them to the top. The Nepalese government also requires a permit from all prospective climbers; this carries a heavy fee, often more than $25,000 per person.
• Mt Everest is twice as high as any mountain in the Rocky Mountains. The highest peak in the Rockies is Mount Elbert, in Colorado, which is 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) above sea level.

I love reading and watching stuff on Mt. Everest, it fascinates me for some reason. It is a beautiful mountain and just towers over everything. But at the same time, it amazes me how people will continue to attempt to climb it. It is the only TRUE Extreme outdoor adventure on the planet.