Dying Everest Climber - What would you have done?

[Shedhand]

I've actually seen the top of everest....from 6000ft (I was in a BA Jumbo).

[boban]

As is usually the case, we are fed ACA or Today Tonight type information that relies on a "source" that rarely provides/represents an accurate or complete view.

I read an article in the Australian today where one of the climbers said that the stories told so far are basically crap. When they passed the solo climber they thought it was a dead Polish guy from a prior season. He had no jacket or gloves on and most of his body was frozen. The climbers noticed signs of life on their way down and one of the party spent 90mins with the guy. Apparently that guy was deeply disturbed by it all.

I encourage you guys to read that article with the link posted by Two Words and get some idea of the extremes of nature we are discussing. I doubt that any of us would give up our lives to comfort someone who was going to die. Conversely Im sure most of us would do what we could to help someone in need.

I, like Bruce believe that most people are decent human beings.

[bitingmidge]

I encourage you guys to read that article with the link posted by Two Words and get some idea of the extremes of nature we are discussing. I doubt that any of us would give up our lives to comfort someone who was going to die. Conversely Im sure most of us would do what we could to help someone in need.

but most of those guys actually did work together when the chips were down.. Hall died as a direct result of waiting/helping.

Coincidentally the Imax movie chaps were shooting that year and it's all documented in a spectacular by very sobreing tale "Everest".

Cheers,

P

[ian]

In respect to this incident and high altitude climbers in general they IMO are a breed apart.

I'm told that if you want to climb Mt McKinley (the highest mtn in North America, located in Alaska) the compulsory briefing from the National Park Ranger includes "Everyone is entitled to die on this mountain, if you get into trouble don't expect to be rescued"

Although Mt McKinley is not as high as Everest, the thinning of the atmosphere towards at the poles means that the oxygen available at the top is not that much more than that on Everest.

I don't think any of us have any idea of the extremes involved or the ethos of high altitude mountaineers. Go see "Into the Void" for what you have to do in some extreme circumstances just to save your own life.

If you're a commercial high mountain guide like Hall, I think that it's only proper that if the client gets into trouble you stay with them and hold their hand while you both die.

However, if you're a private high altitude climber, I'm less sure. Afterall as the McKinley Ranger says "everyone has a right to die" on the mountain.



ian

[Two-Words]

A well thought out, balanced view. Congratulations

thank you

[dazzler]

thank you

Your Welcome

[boban]

but most of those guys actually did work together when the chips were down.. Hall died as a direct result of waiting/helping.

Coincidentally the Imax movie chaps were shooting that year and it's all documented in a spectacular by very sobreing tale "Everest".

Cheers,

P

My understanding of the Hall death was that he and a climber he had encouraged to come back (because they missed the peak the year before by 300 ft as they had to stick to their turn around time) actually went 2 hours beyond the 1pm turnaround time that was set by Hall himself.

[Two-Words]

My understanding of the Hall death was that he and a climber he had encouraged to come back (because they missed the peak the year before by 300 ft as they had to stick to their turn around time) actually went 2 hours beyond the 1pm turnaround time that was set by Hall himself.

That's correct

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer - a must read

[TEEJAY]

Did I just hear on the radio news the Ozzie guy given up for dead a few days ago, (who was with his 2 sherpas and out of oxygen), has just managed to walk himself to the base camp of Everest and awaiting rescue from there.

Wonderful news for him and his family.

Time to open another can of worms.

[Groggy]

You did, look here.

I hope he isn't brain damaged.

[TEEJAY]

I've read about him and Tim McCartney-Snape for years in wilderness magazines - amazing people and an awesome life - not for me. He (Hall) has a wife and 2 teenage sons.

I remember reading about some lady that was guided by two guys to climb most of the worlds significant mountains - not long after all this she suffered depression and suicided. Couldn't top any of all this and felt nothing more to live for - she was attractive, fit and photographed heaps, the magazines loved her. A glamorous part of the mountaineering profile - tragic in the end.

[kiwigeo]

Did I just hear on the radio news the Ozzie guy given up for dead a few days ago, (who was with his 2 sherpas and out of oxygen), has just managed to walk himself to the base camp of Everest and awaiting rescue from there.

Wonderful news for him and his family.

Time to open another can of worms.

Teejay,

I dont think the guy exactly walked himself back to base camp. He had assistance from his rescuers and in most of the daily rags there are pics of him riding at least part of the way to base camp on a yak.

[Ianab]

Yeah.. the last guy was a miracle.
He had passed out from altitude effects, there is no way you can carry someone down unconsious, so they were forced to leave him. If you stay with him, you run out of O2 and die as well. That must be a bad choice to have to make
Next day he had partly come around (that was the miracle) and another party came across him. They were able to give him oxygen and water and got him coherent enough that he was able to stagger down with their help. The rescuers gave up their own summit attempt to help him, but the difference this time was that they thought they could actually do something usefull to help him.

Bottom line, if you cant walk down to the top base camp, even with assistance, you aren't comming down.

Ian - staying down here where there is air to breath!

[Two-Words]

What a tosser

Thanks Al

[ozwinner]

Thanks Al

Hmmm..
Ive checked this thread 3 times to see where I said " what a tosser", and nowhere can it be found, there are no deleted posts either.

While I dont deny I use the term " what a tosser", nowhere in this thread have I said it.

I dont like to be "quoted" out of context.

Al :confused: