PJ24
Active member
Everest Pioneer Blasts Climbers Who Left Dying Man
I've done quite a few rescues on mtns. mostly climbers that a) weren't proficient enough to climb the mtn they were on or b) were irresponsible.
I think the criticism (concerning a rescue) on this is a little harsh given the conditions you encounter on a mountain, esp. at 29K feet (almost 9K meters). When you're that high, you're dying. Doesn't matter how healthy you are or how much oxygen you have, your body is shutting down and you are dying. How you proceed and handle, how well prepared for it you are (if you spent enough time acclimating, etc) and a lot of luck is whether or not you'll survive.
Where this man was, the altitude he was at, he was hypoix, dehydrated and undernourished. He would not have had the strength to help himself down with another climber, or even four or five climbers. They are in better condition, but still hypoix, dehydrated and undernourished as well, they would not have had the strength or the skill to get him back down. Most climbers, esp. recreational ones, are not and an attempt would only leave more dead climbers.
I don't know what the skill level of the climbers was, but out of 40 people, surely there was a group that could have at least tried, sat with him, took down his last wishes and words for his family, etc. Just comforted him before they headed back down.
I do think, and have always though, that anyone who finds an injured or debilitated climber that is dying and most likely going to die, is a low life for continuing his summit. This isn't the firs time this has happened, and sadly, it's pretty common.
The climber that died was also irresponsible for a) climbing alone and b) not bringing enough oxygen. So it really isn't fair to blame his death on others.
They are guilty of callousness and lack of empathy for their fellow man in the face of personal desires, but only he is guilty of his death.
The climbing world is facing tough criticism after dozens of mountaineers are thought to have passed by a dying climber struggling to survive as he descended from the summit of Mount Everest last week.
The British climber, 34-year-old David Sharp, had climbed the mountain solo and was on his way down from the summit.
More than 40 climbers are thought to have seen him as he lay dying, but almost all passed him by.
He was later found dead in an ice cave, apparently from oxygen deficiency.
I've done quite a few rescues on mtns. mostly climbers that a) weren't proficient enough to climb the mtn they were on or b) were irresponsible.
I think the criticism (concerning a rescue) on this is a little harsh given the conditions you encounter on a mountain, esp. at 29K feet (almost 9K meters). When you're that high, you're dying. Doesn't matter how healthy you are or how much oxygen you have, your body is shutting down and you are dying. How you proceed and handle, how well prepared for it you are (if you spent enough time acclimating, etc) and a lot of luck is whether or not you'll survive.
Where this man was, the altitude he was at, he was hypoix, dehydrated and undernourished. He would not have had the strength to help himself down with another climber, or even four or five climbers. They are in better condition, but still hypoix, dehydrated and undernourished as well, they would not have had the strength or the skill to get him back down. Most climbers, esp. recreational ones, are not and an attempt would only leave more dead climbers.
I don't know what the skill level of the climbers was, but out of 40 people, surely there was a group that could have at least tried, sat with him, took down his last wishes and words for his family, etc. Just comforted him before they headed back down.
I do think, and have always though, that anyone who finds an injured or debilitated climber that is dying and most likely going to die, is a low life for continuing his summit. This isn't the firs time this has happened, and sadly, it's pretty common.
The climber that died was also irresponsible for a) climbing alone and b) not bringing enough oxygen. So it really isn't fair to blame his death on others.
They are guilty of callousness and lack of empathy for their fellow man in the face of personal desires, but only he is guilty of his death.