Man, 85, dies trying to regain title of oldest person to climb Mount Everest

If the cannibals like meat popsicles.

I flew from Islamabad to Skardu and Jeeped to Askole.

My Japanese friend, now 54, made it to the top with his team. They conquered Broad Peak Summit in November 1995

while I tried reaching Concordia (Baltoro/Godwin-Austen where you can see the 4 peaks...

and failed.

I am determined to go back and try again.

A man dies at a ripe old age, quickly, while doing what he loves doing. That has got to be the best way to go. Good for him!

Everest is a tourist trap at this point. They take teams of corporate people to the summit these days.

This dude had two problems. No oxygen and he was frickin 85. Even at 85 he may have done it with oxygen, weather depending.

I'd take a death trying to accomplish something like these climbers did any day over one in hospital.

A good number of them are ferried to South Base Camp by helicopter where they are met by teams who will take them to the summit.... if they ever make it.

I want to fly to Lukla and do the hyke to Namche and hear the stories.

Just the flight to Lukla will be an experience by itself.

I wish you the very best fortune and good luck.

When I did it we took a school bus to Skardu (24+ miserable hours with that awful music) and walked to Askole. Things have changed since 1982.

We had 56 porters and the requisite porter strike.
Stayed in Mrs. Davies private hotel in Islamabad.

I climbed a 14'er in the Collegiate peaks near Buena Vista Colorado.... you get above timberline and you better get low to the ground when and electrical storm comes over.

I remember my hair crackling at the top of Pike's Peak and running for cover the electrical charges were so strong.... smaller mountains and different hazard.

I will say it is a spiritual experience and a natural high.

Mountainbiking in the Rockies kicks in the endorphins and you are truly in John Denver's metaphorical Rocky Mountain High... (no doobie needed!)

The true people to honor as they have few choices to provide a better life for their families.

For those of you who say they'd like the experience simply of traveling to the lower base camps, be forewarned. It's still extremely, extremely expensive to get to those locations.

Once there you'll find a total lack of sanitation, think 3rd world shithole. Sorry to be so blunt but highly contagious diseases and at the very least "stomach issues" are rampant as a result. Westerners who aren't used to these conditions, haven't sufficiently acclimated their bodies by travelling for months in the general area, don't have the constitution of an ox, etc and therefore run in to real trouble even before starting their climb skyward.

The problem is that so many have paid upwards of $60,000 which is non-refundable that they lack common sense and won't cancel their fantasies of conquering Mt Everest. Many pay even more to be carried up the mountain by the very brave sherpas.


Another point must be made. Because of the high risk of the life-and-death journey they are about to encounter, all base camps become a super sexually charged atmosphere. Keep in mind it's an almost all male expedition. Men from all over the world indulge in what happens on Mt. Everest, stays in Mt. Everest.

Sherpas and locals all consider wild drinking, smoking, drugging, partying, especially the night before extreme climbing to be verboten but they do not consider it their place to intervene. Just that it's very bad karma.

I'd rather die climbing a fat woman than a tall mountain.

Idiots. stop polluting Everest.

Of course you would.

You would have to show some proof of that. Everest base camp on the normal route is 17 thousand feet. IIRC.

I don't know of any behavior like you describe. I don't know about Everest but I have been up to 20 thousand feet or over several times.

Last Edited by s. d. butler on 05/05/2018 04:08 AM

Best way to die...doing what you love.

Yup

Yes!

Guess you didn't see the last major film on Everest which had an international release. Though trying to be somewhat diplomatic it was very clear by all of the sherpa's expressions their utter disdain for what was occurring. Culturally ingrained disrespect for the gods of the mountain? Sheer impracticality as it was crucial all had to be in the best possible physical & mental condition as an entire team to ensure the chance of survival for all as a group? Realizing that the selfishness of just one could endanger their lives?

Guess you didn't see the last major film on Everest which had an international release. Though trying to be somewhat diplomatic it was very clear by all of the sherpa's expressions their utter disdain for what was occurring. Culturally ingrained disrespect for the gods of the mountain? Sheer impracticality as it was crucial all had to be in the best possible physical & mental condition as an entire team to ensure the chance of survival for all as a group? Realizing that the selfishness of just one could endanger their lives?