3 Climbers Die, 2 Go Missing on Mount Everest
- Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:14am by
Billy Hallowell
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KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Three climbers who scaled Mount Everest died on their descent and two went missing during a crowded weekend on the Himalayan peak, raising concerns Monday about congested trails and poor conditions near the summit.
An estimated 150 climbers tried to reach the top Friday and Saturday as they rushed to use a brief window of good weather in what has otherwise been a troubled season for climbing. Many of the climbers had been waiting at a staging camp for several days for their chance.
FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2011 file photo, the last light of the day sets on Mount Everest as it rises behind Mount Nuptse as seen from Tengboche, in the Himalaya's Khumbu region, Nepal. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer, File)
The three climbers who died Saturday were believed to have suffered exhaustion and altitude sickness, Nepali mountaineering official Gyanendra Shrestha told The Associated Press. Officials were still gathering details from descending climbers, he said.
The victims were identified as German doctor Eberhard Schaaf, Nepal-born Canadian Shriya Shah, and South Korean mountaineer Song Won-bin. The missing climbers are a Chinese national and his Nepalese Sherpa guide.
“There was a traffic jam on the mountain on Saturday. Climbers were still heading to the summit as late as 2:30 p.m. which is quite dangerous,” Shrestha said.
Climbers normally are advised not to try for the summit after 11 a.m. The area above the last camp at South Col is nicknamed the “death zone” because of the steep icy slope, treacherous conditions and low oxygen level.
“With the traffic jam, climbers had a longer wait for their chance to go up the trail and spent too much time at higher altitude. Many of them are believed to be carrying a limited amount of oxygen, not anticipating the extra time spent,” Shrestha said.
Image Credit: ABC.net
The climbing season normally runs from late March to the first week in June, and the Nepalese government places no limits on how many climbers can be on 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) mountain, the world’s highest. The season’s first clear conditions were on Friday and Saturday, but that window already was closing by Saturday afternoon with a windstorm at higher altitudes, Shrestha said.
Ang Tshering, an Everest expert and former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said the government should impose a system of climbing schedules so that scores of climbers are not trying to summit on the same day.
Tshering said the race to the summit on Saturday meant that climbers likely expended all their energy on the way up and had little in reserve for the way back down.
“That is one reason that some climbers collapse after they reach summit. The other thing is when they put too much efforts, when they are very tired it also causes the altitude sickness,” he said.
The deadliest day on Everest was May 10, 1996, when eight people were killed. The main reason was said to be that climbers who started their ascents late in the day were caught in a snow storm that swept the mountain in the afternoon.
Some climbers and environmentalists have expressed concerns that climbing conditions on Everest are worsening each year, possibly due to climate change.
An unusually light snowfall this year has added to this season’s danger, renowned Everest climber Conrad Anker said.
“Because there is little fresh snow, icy surfaces on the slopes make climbing more difficult and dangerous,” Anker said, adding that “the snow acts as glue stopping rocks from falling on the climbers.”
Well-known expedition organizer Russell Brice cited the mountain‘s precarious condition in his decision in early May to cancel this year’s climb for more than 60 clients.
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stinkydroolface
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:58pmHow about the garbage ( emptys ) they leave up there? Didnt they used to leave the dead bodies up there?
Report Post »svan71
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:35amaccording to some here there are only 2 options climbing a stupid mountain or sitting in front of a keyboard…its that mentality that causes someone to climb the stupid thing and tumble to there death or freeze to death…Not realizing the billion other things you can do in nature in between Mt Everest and city traffic.
Report Post »FromSeaToSea
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 6:43pmI had a dream. Now I just don’t have.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:01pmS***! Happens!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:28pmTake the Risk; Accept the Consequences!
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:52pmYou city-folk just don‘t understand the attraction of experiencing nature on it’s terms. You sit within your concrete jungles and deal with rape, murder, robbery and other violent crimes, and then have the audacity to say that climbing mountains is dangerous. Sure . . . it IS dangerous, but so is driving on congested freeways, walking down dark streets, or living in cities like New York, Chicago, L.A., or Detroit. In those places you don’t have any control over the actions of others. If you’re white, a group seeking justice for Treyvon-types may just beat you to death. Home invasion robberies are becoming commonplace. If you live close the the Mexican border, you get to deal with drug cartels, and all of the murder, kidnapping, and everything that goes along with them. No . . . I’ll take my chances in the mountains. I will go to these sacred places long before I’ll visit the dark, corrupt cities. Just don’t be so quick to judge those who also chose the mountains over modern slavery and indenture.
Report Post »Kenszen
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 1:33pmYes, I love the outdoors, too. And, no, not judging their decision to embrace nature. Just judging their lack of judgement to do so against common sense and time-tested safety guidelines. People do that.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:03pmKenszen is right, but he is lying because common sense went out of fashion with the bee hive hair do!!
Report Post »Kenszen
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:38pm@Jhaydeng, I stand corrected. :)
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:41pmIf they are stupid enough to climb a mountain that’s 29,000 feet tall for no good reason and get lost or fall off or freeze to death ?. so there one less idiot standing in line waiting to get service .
Report Post »oldironsides
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:39pmsounds very crowded up there – if I wanted to wait in line I could go to Disney and it would be warmer.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:33pmWe already have too many laws that PAY IDIOTS to do stupid things and then get paid by us if they survive. Then you wonder why there are so many IDIOTS still trying to get killed.
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:43pmIt’s obvious that you have never climbed. You’ve never experienced sitting atop a high mountain peak and looking down at the earth below. You’ve never experienced the thrill and adrenaline rush of doing something very, very difficult. You have never been in the mountains, and experienced nature on IT”S terms. I feel sorry for you.
Report Post »budzy1911
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:10pmurrybr – you are right. This isn‘t a dig on anyone but if you haven’t climbed a mountain and stood there looking down on the cloud tops knowing that you trained hard and suffered to get there – then it is hard to explain. The self challenge and feeling of accomplishment is overwhelming.
How many people are killed every year commuting back and forth to work or die on the job because they feel they owe it to the company? That in my opinion is a waste.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:25pmIf people want to pay money, to climb the top whore mtn. and die doing it I say let them, and the gene pool will be better for it.
Report Post »pennsychica
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:11pmWho would have thought Everst was that congested! Perhaps some of Obama’s stimulus money could be earmarked for a much needed traffic light up there…
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:26pmShut your stinking mouth before he hears you. Obama is looking for ways to waste America.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:05pmEvery climber is aware of the risks. But to say that it might be getting more dangerous due to global warming is a bit of a stretch.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:20pmKick,
Report Post »Yup, I thought the same thing. Someone’s gotta slip some garbage about “climate change” or “global warming” or whatever the envirofascists are calling it nowadays into every story. Then I have to look at the author and that usually explains it.
Joss
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:50amI am an avid Mt. Everest follower. I’m too crippled and old to ever climb it.
It’s not like it used to be. Now if you have the cash and a guide willing to sponsor you, you’ll have a shot at getting to the top (and maybe back down). You are rolling the dice. Even if you are in great shape, the team you are on and the guide team can still get you killed. Poor decisions are made nearly every year.
http://www.evk2cnr.org/WebCams/PyramidOne/everest-webcam.html
That link is to a live cam focused on the mountain. I open it first thing every morning just to make sure it is still there.
Report Post »DawnPalz
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 4:17pmI may start checking it out as well.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:43amHow many people have to die before people start to say, “um this probably isn’t a good idea.”?
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:29pmLet the Lemmings Run please don’t stop them.
Report Post »The Gene Pool is full of idiots we could do without.
budzy1911
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 3:18pmHow many will die growing fat behind a keyboard before we say enough? How many will die sitting in front of the idiot box before we say enough?
You can die behind the wheel of the car driving to work or die pushing the limits? Visit a nursing home and see the people in diapers wheeled in front of a TV for 8 hours a day as their body and minds decay. Is that a better alternative? I for one don’t want to be sitting there years from now in front of the TV saying to myself that I wish I had done that.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:15pm@Budyz, There are less dangerous ways to get out from in front of your favorite screens. Fly fishing is my favorite way to get out there. I mean, I get your point about living life and all, but…
Report Post »SFsuper49er
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:41amIt’s a tragedy but nothing new ! Adventures getting in trouble again then sometimes jeopardizing lives of others for there rescue … Watch the show on Netflix … “I shouldn’t be alive” and you will see what i mean… They get in these predicaments because they go out of there element, most without a backup plan. I’ve learned always have a satellite phone with extra batteries and a Portable GPS. Most of all … Always tell someone where your going and what route your taking if your determined to do these types of things and always remember the golden rule… “Whatever can happen will happen” !
Report Post »uffdaubet
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:36amClimbing Everest is becoming common as weeds.
Report Post »RodT82721
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:32amThis activity sounds like it’s almost as much fun as jumping of the Golden Gate bridge with a rubber band tied to your ankle. Just a lot more work to commit suicide!
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:30amThere are some things that are better left alone. I believe this is one of them.
Report Post »PDOG
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:40amfor sure..
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:29amStupid waste of life.. just to climb a mountain!
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:38amJust ask …Sir-Hillary Clinton!…born several years too early.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:28amSad for all…….there are at least 200 bodies on that mountain…perfectly preserved and frozen in place, including George Mallory, who fell in 1924….I have a buddy of mine I served with who climbed Mt. Everest in 2006, said the hardest part was passing all the dead bodies…really crazy place, beautiful, but deadly.
Report Post »jrcess
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:57amMakes you wonder why Obama’s group is not raising hell about trashing out the mountain. I am sure there is a lot of litter as well as bodies on the mountain. Pass a law, make it illegal.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 12:19pmJRCESS…you know it is littered horribly…No laws will be made, it is a different country and the locals get paid upwards of 25,000 US dollars to guide people to the top…it is the only industry in the region….I think my buddy paid over 60 G’s to make the trip….its always about the dollar, just look at Al ‘Private Jets’ Gore and the rest of the leftist hippocrites
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:23amPeople die on this mountain every year…by choice.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:35amThey(individually) chose the clime….they chose the day…the equipment…all paid-for by them, privately. Now the “bleading-harts” com out of the MSM -woodwork and want the taxpayer to pay millions to “rescue” them. What?..No travel/climers’ insurrance? Airports usedto have “flight insurance” booths…before you takeoff. I know…as an early-teanager, my ma-and-I took a few vacation-flights…and…Voila!…flight-Insurance-Booths!
Report Post »Cruelnunusual
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 2:22pmYou know how to spell voila, but not the other words? Okay.
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:23ami’m sure they had fun doing it.
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