Everest Attempt for VFTT'ers?

[adirobdack46r]

Turns out it is a small world, I work in a hospital in Watertown NY, 70 miles north of Syracuse, I had heard a rumor someone here at my hospital has a nephew that is a guide on Everest. I just tried to call her to get some specifics but she is off till Wed. By then this thread will have slowed down. I talked to her secretary and she had little info but she did say that his name is Mike and has summited the mountain, she knew he didn't make it on his last attempt. She said he goes all over the world as a guide.

 

[Abster]

I might be talked into it.....I can be such a push-over

In climbing Kili I have been to 19,340ft and although it was slow moving, I felt pretty good.

However, there is the fear of heights issue that would probably rear its ugly head, which could cause some problems in the icefall

I would prefer to do Aconcagua or maybe one of the other ones Giggy mentioned.

 

[McRat]

Meh... I'm waiting for the cog to get built. I'm even willing to loan them ours.

My kids have actually seen enough TV to insist that I not climb Everest, but are still young enough to not realize how out of shape Dad truly is. No kidding.

I'll offer VFTT the same answer I give my kids, "Don't worry, I'm not done exploring my back yard yet."

Probably never will be either.

 

[Double Bow]

VFTT Gathering 12.0 location... Everest Base Camp!

As one who enjoys pushing myself through times of discomfort and/or pain but who also is cautious, I think I have toughness and brains to better my odds. I would climb an exposed peak with a 10% chance of thunderstorms and I would climb Everest with a 10% chance of my not making it back. The rewards, the views, and the experience as a whole would be well worth the risk in my book (which I'd write after getting back!).

 

[Gris]

No way. I agree w/ Beck Weathers & Krakauer. It is a type of sickness, immaturity or complete lack of self-awareness that leads people to attempt peaks like Everest. The people that go have not come to the realization that true happiness comes from within, sharing ordinary moments with loved ones and giving in general. It is a myopic "look at me, look at what I've done!" attitude that leads people to take such foolish risks. I would imagine that the vast majority of those that have perished on Everest came to this realization themselves, albeit a little too late for their liking.

 

[NumNum]

Someday i will fly higher than Everest!

 

[carole]

Nope

Nothing about it sounds remotely fun...and if I'm out there I want to have fun.

 

[spaddock]

Torngats, baby -- I still got the Torngats in me sights. Anyone wanna go? If someone told me that I had a free trip to somewhere, I think I'd like to go there.

I'd be down with that. I almost drove the Labrador Highway last year for my "vacation".

Two years ago I would have said absolutely no. Now I'm not so sure. Keep upping the stakes as you get more experienced.

But given your parameters maybe. To me the biggest thing would be "family issues". I'm married, and to me that means I have a responsibility to my wife to be around for a few more years.

I think I could deal with the cold. A report DougPaul posted said it was only -38C at the top, I had originally heard -100 (C or F at that point). I know I've endured that temperature before in Winnipeg, where -30C was actually pretty common, and then add in windchill. And like many have said my climbing resume would have to be greatly improved. As to getting your brain kicked in by the altitude, I'm not sure I could handle it, but I'd take the chance and try. If I had to turn back then so be it. But at least give it a go. The thing I'd worry most about is my will to go on. I hate having to turn back, I wouldn't want to make a really dumb decision when my brain is only on limited capacity.

That being said, me my wife and the dog are heading out to Lake Placid tomorrow to conquer the mighty Pitchoff. Hopefully I can breathe without oxygen at the top!


-Shayne

 

[DougPaul]

I think I could deal with the cold. A report DougPaul posted said it was only -38C at the top, I had originally heard -100 (C or F at that point).

My guess is that the real temp was -38C (= -36F) and the -100 (whichever) was the windchill.

Doug

 

[blacknblue]

I don't think Everest is really my cup of tea. I don't enjoy being so incapacitated for months on end; I just couldn't stay singularly focused for so long and I think the camaraderie would turn into drudgery. Besides that, it is not the most aesthetic of climbs, other than the historic aspect.

Then again, if someone offered to my for my trip today, I probably would have a hard time saying no to such an opportunity. But if someone made the same offer with the choice of Everest, K2, Denali, Ama Dablam, Vinson Massif, or other adventuring options, Everest would not be my first choice.

 

[trailbiscuit]

Nothing about it sounds remotely fun...and if I'm out there I want to have fun.

That's exactly why I voted "Heck Yeah." I'm an idiot.
If I felt I had enough mountaineering experience (which I do not), I'd be all over it. Again, I'm an idiot.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.

 

[forestgnome]

the good news is that the mountain is clear of all old debris (gear, bottles et al)

Nice!!! I was just about to agree with stinkyfeet; glad it's been cleaned. I've never been impressed with anyone who has hiked to Everest, or anywhere else, if they trashed the place.

Extreme kudos to whoever did that litter detail. Shame on any pig who left trash in such a difficult place to clean. If you're too weak to carry it out, you're too weak.

There's no attraction for me to hike in a place without trees, birds, moose, wildflowers, bears, mushrooms, moss, princess pine, beavers, ferns, lichens, toads, frogs, falcons, coyotes.......

 

[truepatriot09]

Gris-
What a grim and misguided statement. While I agree that there are those that climb large peaks with poor intentions (ie Dick Bass) and dillusions of grandeur, there are plenty of others who climb large peaks for the same reasons we climb smaller ones. One shouldn't make such a broad generalization of the intentions of those who go the higher mountains. I'm not trying to stir the pot, just seems to me that not everyone who climbs up high should not be labeled as being either mentally ill or completely self absorbed. Having spoke to those who have climbed the Himalaya, they often tend to be the exact opposite of what you have described.

Again not trying to be the bad guy here, but your comment just seemed a bit harsh to me...

 

[sierra]

First off gris are you kidding I hope so. I am a poor climber, Im moving out west in a few weeks for the climbing season and believe me, Im to poor for Everest. In all seriousness, I would not only go if I had the chance, I would summit. I would trade all the boredom, all the hard work, all the time it took, to stand on the summit and yes I would chance my life to do it. To me life is about doing what you love and doing it with all you have in your heart and soul. Quite frankly the people that wouldnt do it could never understand why someone would, that folks is the fundemental diffence between the woulds and the would nots.
Im a very safe climber and currently a serious soloist. Once 2 winters ago on a 14er in CO, I was left 1 mile of sharp ridge in very marginal conditions for a summit I had attempted 5 times previously. I sat there and thought about it for 15 minutes weighing all the possible outcomes. I decided that at that time to test myself, to stick my neck out and use all I had learned in 20+ yrs in the mountains, to go for it and summit no matter what I was not going to stop until I made the summit. I made the summit and made it down. Once to safety I thought about how I had decided to risk my life for a mountain, it was not only one of the most liberating moments of my life but easily one of the most satisfying as well.

 

[chipc]

Once to safety I thought about how I had decided to risk my life for a mountain, it was not only one of the most liberating moments of my life but easily one of the most satisfying as well.

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

While I might not share Sierra's view on getting to a summit, I can't criticize it either. We all take risks (not only physical) to achieve goals in our lives; when you succeed you are more empowered for the next challenge. So while a climb to Everest (or even Ranier) is not on my radar, I can understand why someone wants to climb it. That being said, achievement of a goal should not come at the expense of someone else.

 

[truepatriot09]

well put chipc.... it always comes down to to each his/her own. i for one can't wait to find myself on the flanks of Mt. Rainier this summer...I hope to learn a lot about both mountaineering...and myself...

 

[Danielle]

I voted "no." Even though I truly respect those who have summited Everest and those who have tried, I am not sure it is for me. Although I have to admit that I would love to trek to base camp, to get to that part of the world and to see the mountains that I have read so much about. I have always thought that would be just as, or more, worthwhile an experience as climbing Everest itself.

 

[bobandgeri]

Another no vote

Sounds too much like work and pain for us. We'll stick with the New England peaks for now - maybe Rainier or some Colorado peaks though.

 

[Gris]

What a grim and misguided statement.

You're entitled to your opinion. And, i hope, i'm entitled to mine. Perhaps given time you may even feel as i do...

You see, i watch Beck Wethers, crying and saying: god God, what was i thinking coming up here? what was wrong with me. i have a beautiful family, etc., and i see that it he now has things in the proper place in his mind.

I guess the answer is IF your world revolves around yourself, then by all means do whatever makes you happy w/o any regard to others. However, if your world includes caring deeply about others who care deeply about you, then perhaps you consider not taking crazy risks because you know what you could do to them by doing something terrible to yourself...

Doesn't seem like a "grim and misguided" thought pattern to me, seems good hearted and responsible. But maybe I'm too "grim and misguided" or otherwise unenlightened to figure it out for myself.

BTW, TruePatriot, if i may ask, how old are you?

 

[timmus]

Torngats, baby -- I still got the Torngats in me sights. Anyone wanna go? If someone told me that I had a free trip to somewhere, I think I'd like to go there.

-Dr. Wu

D'you really wanna do it ? I'm in.

Let's say, July 2008.

As for Everest ? No. Simply because I am waaayyy too lazy to do the training.