Everest :: Essays Papers

EverestMount Everest, the humanss highschoolest point at 29,035 feet, is a special trophy among high altitude mountaineers. Standing atop the worlds highest point a hypoxic climber clad in a fluorescent down instance is above ever soything else on the planet, for a moment that individual can move over farther into the sky than any other. Arms raised in a victorious salute, a climber feels like they pitch conquered something that few others ever have, and justifiably so. The summit is usually the final fruition of months, sometimes days of planning, weeks of travel and acclimatization, and days of endless plodding at a feeble, learning-to-walk pace.Climbers who have devoted years to the sport may never have a chance at Everest, yet it seems that those with the monetary means can give out to the top, non through years of preparing, but by the simple humanitarian of a signature to a check. Those without the experience somehow make up for their lack of skills by paying othe rs to cover their shortcomings, in preparing eitherthing from travel and logistics, to providing gear, food, accommodations, and a support team. The thickenings of guided trips can go so far as to have a mountain professional literally lead the way, every step, to the top.A major problem with the amateurs on Everest is the inherent need for a guide to the summit. In a high altitude alpine background knowledge one persons skills or experience should not be used as coverage for a lack in some others. Being literally led by hand along a lofty snow-ridge, towards the summit, and then back down again, is no way to climb, arrive or spend any amount of time on a mountain. Guiding, although a monetarily lucrative business, and possibly fine at lower altitudes, is not responsible in a high altitude mountaineering setting.In a May 23rd, 1996 Outside Magazine online chat with Jon Krakauer, a client on a guided expedition and the to-be author of Into Thin Air, an scotch of the 1996 Ev erest disaster, expressed his feelings about guiding on Everest. He agreed with a contributor that guides on Everest are bound to their clients and actually are gainful to take care of them. He also contributed that, although he was an extremely fulfill climber, he would never consider guiding, if only for the fact that he wouldnt want (his) life to be determined by some abuse tripping over his crampons and pulling (him) off (the mountain).