Hillary and Tenzing were only at the summit for 18 minutes. From what climbers have told me the experience is in the climb, the acclimatization, the many challenges along the way, and the camaraderie built within your team. Nowadays being on the summit is even less than 18 minutes due to the long lines, but the team camaraderie will last a lifetime.
The experience of the climb is the point... I'm sure many, many people will pay for this style of climb, but they'll fail to really "get it." Fascinating work-around, though, with regard to the gas.
Hubris indeed. I enjoy reading a lot of high altitude mountaineers and even the most acclimatized and experienced may fail. This new approach seems highly detrimental and with not enough respect to the Holy Mountain.
I loved the book not only for the underlying story but also because it serves as a journalism manual, especially the debate at the end
Hillary and Tenzing were only at the summit for 18 minutes. From what climbers have told me the experience is in the climb, the acclimatization, the many challenges along the way, and the camaraderie built within your team. Nowadays being on the summit is even less than 18 minutes due to the long lines, but the team camaraderie will last a lifetime.
The experience of the climb is the point... I'm sure many, many people will pay for this style of climb, but they'll fail to really "get it." Fascinating work-around, though, with regard to the gas.
Hubris indeed. I enjoy reading a lot of high altitude mountaineers and even the most acclimatized and experienced may fail. This new approach seems highly detrimental and with not enough respect to the Holy Mountain.