What do you think about climbing world’s highest mountains?

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

Of course, I am not interested in climbing K2 or Everest.

I have just been reading a lot of information about the climbers, some experienced, some inexperienced people who have risked their own and their guides lives just to climb the mountain.

Or people who have had to climb over dead or wounded bodies to reach the top.

I understand it’s part of the protocol and you can’t put yourself in danger by helping others.

But I find it so hard to imagine people risk their lives and then, when there are people in meed of help. Instead of helping, people just let them die and keep climbing.

I am not trying to judge, just find it very difficult to imagine. Why would people choose to do something that might end up being so risky and traumatic?

[Screenwriter]

It's not seeing the forest for the trees. Everest is a unique challenge and few people can afford to do it financially or physically. There have only been a few hundred, maybe a thousand people who've successfully scaled it.

And there are many who've failed at it and are left on the mountain. Those determined to scale Everest ignore the dead and walk over them since their goal is to become more of the few who've finished the climb.

And those doing the climb are likely people who think cheating death makes them more alive. And, as most folk know, once you're past about 26,000 feet, you're in the "death zone." That means oxygen levels in the air are insuffcient to maintain human life. You're actually dying the longer you stay in this area. So it's paramount that you use supplemental oxygen to complete the climb. There is still a risk of pulmonary and brain edema even with the supplemental oxygen. The only cure is to return to sea level.

So, it's thrill seeking, being part of a special club, cheating death... all sorts of weird compensations for people who need such things.

Every day I wake up I've cheated death, and it's a thrill , and the special club?, it's being part of life and living it to the best I can each day. That's the mountain to climb, in my opinion. Not a rock on the other side of the world.

[provokeesmokee]

I'm more of a boulderer than a trad climber.

I don't know that I'd want to climb the tallest mountains. The height doesn't matter as much as the experience, views, and community around the site.

I wouldn't do K2 or Everest. I feel they're damaged enough and I'm not going to accomplish anything personally significant enough to justify the impact my visit would cause.

There's a few summits that are personally significant I'd rather climb. 2/3 are fairly dangerous but doable. The last is one I'm not sold on climbing. It's quite deadly.

[DryGermanGuy]

I agree with everything you wrote. And in recent years, it has become less and less mountaineering and more of a tourist attraction, to the point of offering "assisted climbing" even for the elderly and infirm. Look at that picture of Mt. Everest, it's ridiculous!

I recommend the excellent, albeit depressing, 2015 movie "Everest" about the catastrophic 1996 Everest climbing season.

[spartan55]

I guess to add a bullet point to their bucket list? I have no idea, the instinct for self preservation is strong in me. So high risk activities like this, running with the bulls, etc don't appeal to me.

[CrimsonAngel09]

Nope.

I somehow got to watch a bunch of shorts on it on YouTube, including a body just tumbling down the mountain (possibly dead) with a woman screaming "Oh my GOD!!!".

I have seen half my family dead in a coffin in a short amount of time, and been traumatized. I don't need to escalate that by going over the frozen ones stuck to the mountain.

Next thing you know I can't breathe, and I'm joining them.

Nope.

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

I am sorry to hear that…

You are the alive continuation of your family and loved ones, hope you’ll take a good care of yourself.

[AviatorTom]

Adventurers can climb whatever they want. Average people who are out to climb mountains when they are not even fit enough to walk to the bus stop should leave mountain climbing to those who know what they are doing.

[midnightmoon05]

Worlds highest? I’ll die before I get to 3000 m.
it requires a lot of training, practice, knowledge and having good health to do so.
many like the challenges … many do die.

we drove up to Mt. Stelvio in Italy this past summer and stayed up there for a few days to try the climb. It was very windy, not easy. we did see some crosses along the hike up… not careful.. one can fall to their death easily, still every year many climbers continue to challenge themselves.

[Daniela1982]

Because it is very expensive and time consuming to climb the mountain. They want to reach their dream instead of using their own precious oxygen, energy, and time to help someone else, which would be futile anyway since there are no rescue services they can call for help. Half of those that died were unprepared or equipped for the climb and should not been up there to begin with. They knew the cons of climbing the mountain but did it anyway, so the consequences fall on them.

[Luopio27]

Not my cup of Tea to freeze up n the mountains or choke in thin air or fall into the blue and white deaths.

[ChicoFromThe305]

You forgot to mention that they use the bodies as markers to know where they are and where they are going "when you reach the body in approximately 15ft make a slight right to avoid a avalanche soft spot" ☻

[ProbablyClueless]

It sounds amazing. I would love to do it one day when I finally get my butt in good enough shape.

[GOOSEBOY78]

just remember the golden rule: every dead climber on everest was a highly motivated person.

[bolverk]

I would not do either of them as the base camps for both are turning into junk heaps of discarded equipment.

[TomMarks]

Not in the card’s for me I’m scared of heights.

[Christoff92]

Just to find yourself. Yeh it would be exciting but also challenging.

[Pohjolan]

I'd rather summit some closer smaller mountains first and then maybe consider it.

[TiaNour]

I would watch someone climb it, but I would never do it

[Jerre]

I don’t like heights so I damn sure would NOT do it.

[olboyoutlawbradyjr]

I'll settle for climbing a buxom babe's 38D boobs !!!

[Dargil]

Waaaay over my head.

[Drumlin2001]

No thanks. I can barely climb the stairs

[Fireguy17]

Nope I'm fine not doing that.

[sheikalana]

I think is dangerous.

[DARKCLOUD1945X]

Way too much work for me.