At what point does climbing Mount Everest becomes "I've got lots of money to blow"?

[SSSnail]

I totally respect the pioneers that did it, when they did it with not much. Now, it's kinda like a very expensive theme park. What's the point anymore? To say you paid a lot of money to get someone to shepherd you up the mountain and then walk up by clinging to a line?

 

[mugs]

Not sure if you're trolling or just really clueless? Climbing Everest is still not easy. It's very dangerous. You can't just do it with no experience no matter how much you have to spend.

 

[techofalltrades]

just get in line

 

[Rinaun]

Not sure if you're trolling or just really clueless? Climbing Everest is still not easy. It's very dangerous. You can't just do it with no experience no matter how much you have to spend.

Thats not what the OP is saying. It's still dangerous, sure....but it's nothing more than a glorified handholding trip with sherpas. Have you even seen the pictures of the line to the summit? It's usually packed.

just get in line

case in point, while they are all in extreme risk.......why bother? To prove you can pay your way to the top? It's a "why waste money when you aren't proving shit" thing I think. I'd rather say I hiked the largest mountain in america without assistance compared to saying I spent a ton of cash going to Everest and making it more littered with trash.

That being said, I laughed so hard when Dean "Rocket" Hall (from DayZ/ARMA fame) decided to stop mid-development of DayZ to go do Everest. Worst move ever; he should have just done it after they finished the standalone. Now he's 7 months behind and the game looks terrible. Priorities I guess.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Would you rather take the elevator up to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa or take the stairs up to the top of the next tallest building?

 

[iGas]

Not sure if you're trolling or just really clueless? Climbing Everest is still not easy. It's very dangerous. You can't just do it with no experience no matter how much you have to spend.

They practically have the sherpas carry them up the mt.

With enough money anyone can be drop off at the peak with a helicopter.

 

[JMapleton]

It's a tourist destinations and it's a shame what the mountain has turned in to.

 

[JMapleton]

Not sure if you're trolling or just really clueless? Climbing Everest is still not easy. It's very dangerous. You can't just do it with no experience no matter how much you have to spend.

You can climb it though with very little experience. Relative to what it is, the tallest mountain in the world, it's extremely easy. All other 8000 meter peaks, with the exception of maybe one or two others are far far more difficult than Everest.

 

[highland145]

When I'm sitting in my recliner, watching my satellite view of the guys I paid to carry my cardboard cutout to the top and take pics. That's when I have a lot of $$ to blow.

 

[BikeJunkie]

It's still on my bucket list :shrug:

Just because it's easier now than it was years ago doesn't mean it's trivial or not an experience to behold.

 

[Genx87]

I dont even see what the big deal is anyways. Some of those islands in the pacific are taller than Mount Everest from base to peak.

 

[WelshBloke]

I dont even see what the big deal is anyways. Some of those islands in the pacific are taller than Mount Everest from base to peak.

Base camp is a little damp though.

 

[steve wilson]

has anyone ever snowboarded/ skied down it?

 

[SandEagle]

never understood the passion for climbing mountains. wby don't they just build stairs there?
bunch of middle-aged crybabies with too much money if you ask me.

 

[KB]

Want to be on the tallest mountain in the world, then go up Mauna Kea in Hawaii (half is underwater). Want to be on the highest point on earth, then fly a plane. Both are much safer and cheaper. I don't get it either, but then again I don't have $70,000 to blow away. I am certain it has amazing views and would be interesting experience. I would do it if someone else was paying though and it wasn't so crowded.

 

[BikeJunkie]

I dont even see what the big deal is anyways. Some of those islands in the pacific are taller than Mount Everest from base to peak.

Umm, the conditions are a tad different

 

[Triumph]

Last year was my "everest" year, meaning I spent a bunch of time reading books on it and watching whatever I could find. "Into Thin Air" is a great, captivating read about the 1996 storm on Everest that killed 8 people in one evening, including several sherpas and several very experienced climbers. Great book! Even then, the author was complaining about commercialization and over-climbing of the mountain by inexperienced climbers, and the volume of climbers then was something like 1/10th of the number of people attempting the summit in more recent years.

I do think it's stupid to say that it's "easy" since a lot of people with money are doing it successfully. 30,000 people a year run the Boston Marathon, does that mean it's easy?You're still climbing 2 miles above base camp in -30 degree weather with a third of the oxygen that you're used to.

has anyone ever snowboarded/ skied down it?

Yes I believe someone did ski down Everest.

 

[BikeJunkie]

I do think it's stupid to say that it's "easy" since a lot of people with money are doing it successfully. 30,000 people a year run the Boston Marathon, does that mean it's easy?You're still climbing 2 miles above base camp in -30 degree weather with a third of the oxygen that you're used to.

Keep in mind that the OP (and others) see a pic of climbers using a line and think that's representative of the entire 2 mile climb

Certain sections require the use of a line, including Lhotse Face and Geneva Spur.

 

[halik]

Have absolutely no inclination to do something like that and really don't understand why anyone would. I guess if your life is a cookie cutter middle class white suburbia or something.

 

[NetWareHead]

Yes there are many more people climbing everest than before. But it is still not easy! Death is a real risk up there. Climbing that mountain even if "attached to a line" and led by a sherpa is an extremely difficult and harrowing experience in one of the most inhospitable and incompatible with life places on earth.

 

[Oyeve]

just get in line

Is there a Mount Everest Apple store now?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It's still on my bucket list :shrug:

Just because it's easier now than it was years ago doesn't mean it's trivial or not an experience to behold.

When the biggest barrier to completing a task is the long lines of out of shape senior citizens and bored housewives also completing the task then it's trivial.

 

[Aharami]

Have absolutely no inclination to do something like that and really don't understand why anyone would. I guess if your life is a cookie cutter middle class white suburbia or something.

we get it...you make lots of money

 

[Aharami]

from what I hear, K2 is still much more dangerous/challenging

 

[BikeJunkie]

Have absolutely no inclination to do something like that and really don't understand why anyone would. I guess if your life is a cookie cutter middle class white suburbia or something.

The same reason people run marathons - to challenge themselves physically and mentally. And the view, of course.

Not sure what "cookie cutter middle class white suburbia" has to do with it

LOL @ everyone who thinks there's anything easy or routine about it. Given that only 1 out of 4 climbers actually summit, and that these climbers aren't just yuppies looking to throw cash around, I think some of you have your heads squarely up your asses.