Comments on: Why Climbers Die on Everest: It’s Not the Avalanches (or the Yeti)

By: Lester T. Stark

Lester T. Stark — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:03:24 +0000

There are some attention-grabbing closing dates on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity but I will take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish more! Added to FeedBurner as well

By: monte s

monte s — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:54:48 +0000

I agree w/ Larian Lequella. Thanks for the post. For me I would rather live 40 years getting the best outta life everyday, then 80 years of A mundane rat-race life. Though thats just me!

By: Larian LeQuella

Larian LeQuella — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:21:53 +0000

I find it dismaying to read comments like Peter Roscoe’s. Maybe I am falling victim to Poe’s Law or something, but there are so many objectionable parts of his post:

- I think more “others” have died on Everest climbs than the “white people”. 46 Nepalese have died there just for one point of reference.
- In general people who chose to climb mountains are a cross section of any population, and thus no more stupid than any other segment. It could even be argued that people with that amount of drive and determination may actually habour higher than average intelligence.
- As related in the article, few people die from a “fall”.
- Not only because it’s there, but to present yourself with a challenge. Have you ever left your couch Mr. Roscoe?

To live in a world where there is no imagination and wonder. Sure, climbing Mt Everest is not on my “bucket list”, but I can understand the allure to tackle a challenge. To do something unique. Do people really live in such a wonderless place as Mr. Roscoe’s world appears to be?

By: Eliza Strickland

Eliza Strickland — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:16:45 +0000

@ bagui:

As the famous British mountaineer George Mallory said: “Because it’s there.”

But he died on Everest a year after saying that.

By: bagui

bagui — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:30:20 +0000

what’s the point in climbing mountains any way?

By: Peter Roscoe

Peter Roscoe — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:25:53 +0000

Its invariably stupid white people who get killed on these mountains! Its serves no real purpose to climb mountains and fall off them.

By: nita taefi

nita taefi — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:25:04 +0000

People have the idea they are superhuman or are very foolish. There is no reason for rescuers to rish their own lives to save these people from themselves. Unfortunately, certain people feel they have this “need” to do something daring and wind up endangering not only themselves but others.

By: Eliza Strickland

Eliza Strickland — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:22:43 +0000

As I understand it, researchers did know that some climbers die from altitude-related brain swelling (more properly known as cerebral oedema), but they didn’t realize that it was the primary cause of death on the mountain. They were surprised that it surpassed falls, avalanches, hypothermia, and a respiratory problem (called high altitude pulmonary oedema) as the main cause.

But if you remember details from the documentary you saw, Me, feel free to share!

By: Me

Me — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:47:57 +0000

Hasn’t this been known for sometime already? I remember hearing about this on a documentary about Everest several years ago.