I thought this article would be of interest to those who mentioned all the $ being made on Everest expiditions in the previous posts:

"...The Nepalese government, for example, issued 325 climbing permits to foreign mountaineers this year at a price of $10,000 each. And that's just the beginning.

The average Everest climber spends around $51,000 on guides, porters and permits, according to Alan Arnette, a mountaineer and Mount Everest expert who speaks frequently on issues related to the mountain. On the high end, RMI Expeditions charged clients $74,000 apiece in this season, while local Kathmandu operator Asian Trekking was the cheapest guided option at $30,300 as of 2010. Gear and travel expenses can easily add another $5,000 to $10,000 to the cost. ..."

[finance.yahoo.com]

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JoeM

Small price to pay to be able to check off an item on muh bucket list.

I can think of at least one other thing to do with that kind of scratch.

Maybe two.

and with all the hot air generated by the massive egos of the climbers, the government is running a steam generation plant that provides heat to the locals.

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mrbigstuff
and with all the hot air generated by the massive egos of the climbers

What an uninformed thing to say.

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RIP, Greg the DogSitter. You are missed.

So I'm the only one who recognizes what Everest does for the economy of Nepal? And the locals around Everest?

The climbers pay their money, and take their chances... and their wanting to climb Everest enriches everyone within 500 miles of the mountain.

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--
Eureka, CA

Yeah, sounds great for the locals. Gettin' paid is a good thing.

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Paul F.
So I'm the only one who recognizes what Everest does for the economy of Nepal? And the locals around Everest?

The climbers pay their money, and take their chances... and their wanting to climb Everest enriches everyone within 500 miles of the mountain.

Um, no. JoeM's original post made that very same point.

But I agree: let Nepal benefit from the stupidity of these climbers. If they die that's their problem. I just wish the ones who live would start cleaning up after themselves.

I tried reading Krakauer's celebrated book. I couldn't get through it. I kept thinking: tough @#$%& you fools, and quit trying to make a tale of heroic bravery out of a fool's errand.

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Uncle Wig
…tough @#$%& you fools, and quit trying to make a tale of heroic bravery out of a fool's errand.

Yes, this is what I think with these types of endeavours, except I hadn't been able to put it into a 1 line summary. Mind if I cite you?

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Lew Zealand

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Uncle Wig
…tough @#$%& you fools, and quit trying to make a tale of heroic bravery out of a fool's errand.

Yes, this is what I think with these types of endeavours, except I hadn't been able to put it into a 1 line summary. Mind if I cite you?

yup, that is a good line. I'm going to steal cite it, too.

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N-OS X-tasy!

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mrbigstuff
and with all the hot air generated by the massive egos of the climbers

What an uninformed thing to say.

uh, so you think some part of this story is "informed?"

There are so many much more demanding challenges in life than sailing alone around the world or climbing the highest peak. Take on what Mother Teresa and others like her have done.

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West San Gabriel Valley, California ... for the time being

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mrbigstuff

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N-OS X-tasy!

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mrbigstuff
and with all the hot air generated by the massive egos of the climbers

What an uninformed thing to say.

uh, so you think some part of this story is "informed?"

No, I think your opinion that all Everest climbers have "massive egos" is uninformed.

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RIP, Greg the DogSitter. You are missed.

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N-OS X-tasy!

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mrbigstuff

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N-OS X-tasy!

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mrbigstuff
and with all the hot air generated by the massive egos of the climbers

What an uninformed thing to say.

uh, so you think some part of this story is "informed?"

No, I think your opinion that all Everest climbers have "massive egos" is uninformed.

When Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did it, it was, "Can Everest be climbed?" Now it's, "Can I climb Everest?" I think that is by nature an egoistic motive. But I wouldn't go so far as to call all climbers egotists.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why. Is it because they're relatively well off? Is it because the commenters feel intimidated by people who get a thrill from mountain climbing? Is it that everybody here is taking on massive Mother Teresa-level charitable works and feels that anybody who stoops to personal challenges is scum? How do you even know that some of the Everest climbers aren't also doing benevolent work in India? What is it exactly? Do you folks feel the same enmity towards those who climb rock walls in Yosemite? the Eiger in Switzerland?

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"So be proud to be a decent American instead of just a w'anker whipping up fear!" - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2012 06:59PM by davester.

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davester
A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why. Is it because they're relatively well off? Is it because the commenters feel intimidated by people who get a thrill from mountain climbing? Is it that everybody here is taking on massive Mother Teresa-level charitable works and feels that anybody who stoops to personal challenges is scum? What is it exactly? Do you folks feel the same enmity towards those who climb rock walls in Yosemite? the Eiger in Switzerland?

I think you pretty much nailed the attitude of some folks...

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Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--
Eureka, CA

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davester
A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why. Is it because they're relatively well off? Is it because the commenters feel intimidated by people who get a thrill from mountain climbing? Is it that everybody here is taking on massive Mother Teresa-level charitable works and feels that anybody who stoops to personal challenges is scum? How do you even know that some of the Everest climbers aren't also doing benevolent work in India? What is it exactly? Do you folks feel the same enmity towards those who climb rock walls in Yosemite? the Eiger in Switzerland?

Since that's clearly what you think, you should put those leading questions in the form of declarative statements instead.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

Dave, I think you're characterizing other peoples positions on the topic in an extreme manner.

And in regard to jealousy of wealth, I think that's purely erroneous. I don't think most people have stopped to think about how expensive it is to climb Mt. Everest. I know I didn't think it was that much. Their opinions of the egos involved were already formed before taking that fact into consideration.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2012 07:40PM by Carnos Jax.

boy, I can think of better hills to die defending than one for climbers who summit Everest, but if you're itching for a fight over these numbskulls, have a blast.

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Uncle Wig

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davester
A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why. Is it because they're relatively well off? Is it because the commenters feel intimidated by people who get a thrill from mountain climbing? Is it that everybody here is taking on massive Mother Teresa-level charitable works and feels that anybody who stoops to personal challenges is scum? How do you even know that some of the Everest climbers aren't also doing benevolent work in India? What is it exactly? Do you folks feel the same enmity towards those who climb rock walls in Yosemite? the Eiger in Switzerland?

Since that's clearly what you think, you should put those leading questions in the form of declarative statements instead.

A leading question is one where the questioner already knows the answer and is trying to direct the questionee to a position against their will. The only leading question was the one about Mother Teresa, and that was more a joke than a question. All the others were perfectly valid questions that nobody here seems willing to attempt to answer, preferring instead to attack me for bringing them up.

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"So be proud to be a decent American instead of just a w'anker whipping up fear!" - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2012 07:58PM by davester.

Those are leading questions because the imply their own answers. But here goes:

1. I don't hate mountain climbers.
2. I don't hate mountain climbers because they're relatively well off.
3. Mountain climbers don't intimidate me.
4. Sarcastic question skipped.
5. I don't know if mountain climbers also do charitable works in Nepal, or not.
6. I feel enmity toward Yosemite rock climbers because they deface the rock walls; I don't know about Eiger.

Everest climbers irritate me because they have trashed that environment. Anybody who trashes the environment irritates me.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

I agree with davester.

Too many posters on this thread seem to be making value judgements about the people who choose to climb mountains.

Unless you know them personally, it's not fair to characterize them in any way, in my opinion.

I think we are all "guilty" of poor decision making from time to time, or making decisions that others might think foolish. But at the time, they are the right decisions for us.

The world (and this forum) needs a little more tolerance.

trashed mountain
trashed thread

same people

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[www.freethegrapes.org]

norwegian wood reality TV

[www.youtube.com]

Not hatred from me. It takes away the energy I can't already afford to spare
All I say is Mother Teresa's work was the most challenging if one was to find a "peak" to climb.

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West San Gabriel Valley, California ... for the time being



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2012 10:12PM by kap.

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Uncle Wig
Everest climbers irritate me because they have trashed that environment. Anybody who trashes the environment irritates me.

a truly uninformed thing to say...

Not all climbers trash the environment.

Not all climbers have gigantic egos.

Try talking to some of them. Or at least listen to some of them talk. Adventurers are a special breed - I guarantee that you would really, really want to know some of those folks. And of course, some are egotistical @#$%& - just like everywhere...

The broad brush used here is absurd. The world would be a very boring place without the adventurous spirit that lives in some of us.

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hal

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Uncle Wig
Everest climbers irritate me because they have trashed that environment. Anybody who trashes the environment irritates me.

a truly uninformed thing to say...

Not all climbers trash the environment.

Not all climbers have gigantic egos.

Try talking to some of them. Or at least listen to some of them talk. Adventurers are a special breed - I guarantee that you would really, really want to know some of those folks. And of course, some are egotistical @#$%& - just like everywhere...

The broad brush used here is absurd. The world would be a very boring place without the adventurous spirit that lives in some of us.

Hal, I didn't paint all climbers that way. The environment around Everest has been trashed by climbers, in which group I include the ones running the expeditions. That is not the same as saying that all climbers are cavalier about the environment; I'm already certain that is not the case. Like I said, I don't have a hatred of mountain climbers.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

With me it's envy.

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davester
A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why. Is it because they're relatively well off? Is it because the commenters feel intimidated by people who get a thrill from mountain climbing? Is it that everybody here is taking on massive Mother Teresa-level charitable works and feels that anybody who stoops to personal challenges is scum? How do you even know that some of the Everest climbers aren't also doing benevolent work in India? What is it exactly? Do you folks feel the same enmity towards those who climb rock walls in Yosemite? the Eiger in Switzerland?

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

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Lew Zealand
Maybe two.

At the same time?

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davester
A lot of hatred in this thread for mountain climbers. I wonder why.

Because they're there?

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davester
the Eiger in Switzerland?

"Yeah, punk. I do. You got a problem with that?"

the reason why so many people are dying is because non mountain climbers are climbing everest. its more about having the cash than the skill and experience.

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Who cares!! If someone wants to climb a mountain, they accept the risks. If I wanted to go out and drive a NASCAR, I'm accepting the risk.

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Paul F.
So I'm the only one who recognizes what Everest does for the economy of Nepal? And the locals around Everest?

The climbers pay their money, and take their chances... and their wanting to climb Everest enriches everyone within 500 miles of the mountain.

I spent some time in a Rai village in Nepal on the Everest route (if you hiked, rather than fly in, as I suppose most of the well-to-do 'adventurers' do). It was decades ago, so perhaps some of the tourist cash has filtered down to the villagers, who are subsistence farmers, but I doubt it. The Sherpas farther north who enlisted as guides and porters made a little money, but certainly not "everyone within 500 miles of the mountain." I expect most of the cash stays in Kathmandu, in the hands of tourist agencies and government officials.

/Mr Lynn

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"Hillbilly at Harvard"
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On the river in Saxonville.

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mattkime
the reason why so many people are dying is because non mountain climbers are climbing everest. its more about having the cash than the skill and experience.

Yes, unfortunately true for some now. It is kind of a trendy thing for some to attempt now. I have been fascinated by the thought of climbing Everest since I was young and the sheer effort and sometimes luck involved in a successful summit. I always wanted to see what the view was from the summit and luckily have been able to have a small experience of it when I watched some documentries and film in IMAX some years back.

Every May I follow the expeditions and I have to admit it has unfortunately taken on a bit of an aspect of waiting to watch a train wreck when it comes to some of the expeditions going there. The scary thing is how some of these people put others in jepardy with some of the selfish and poorly thought out attempts they make up there.

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JoeM