A tragic incident on Mount Everest has stirred debate in the mountaineering community after a Kenyan mountaineer was reported dead and a Nepali sherpa went missing during a summit attempt without supplemental oxygen.
Summary
- Mount Everest is a treacherous mountain known for its challenging conditions and high fatalities.
- Proper acclimatization and oxygen use are crucial for climbing in the death zone.
- Sherpas play a vital role in assisting climbers, but even they face risks in extreme conditions.
- The mountaineering community is divided on the ethics and safety of climbing without supplemental oxygen.
Debate on Everest Climbing
In response to the tragedy, users expressed mixed feelings about the risks involved in climbing Everest. One user commented, ‘There’s bodies littered all over Everest… This is unfortunately not surprising in the least.’
Another user highlighted the importance of acclimatization, stating, ‘Everest expeditions usually take at least two months to allow sufficient time for acclimatization to high altitudes, which is necessary even for people in excellent physical condition.’
The Role of Sherpas
Discussion also centered around the role of sherpas in supporting climbers on Everest. A user suggested, ‘They should harvest a few of those frozen bodies on Everest for science. Look for microplastics, cancer, and radiation. They’re frozen biological controls from the past.’
Another user explained the challenges climbers face in the death zone, noting, ‘Sherpas have genetic mutations that help them with long exposure, but everyone will die if they overstay. It is basically a Russian roulette, you don’t know how your body will handle.’
Ethics of Oxygen Use
The use of supplemental oxygen sparked debate among users, with one questioning, ‘Do they all use sherpas, or are any able to do it solo?’ Another user expressed disbelief, asking, ‘Why would you climb Everest without O2?!?!’
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks that climbers face on Everest and the ethical considerations surrounding high-altitude mountaineering.