grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Nepal's Sherpa community is confronting a dark tragedy after at least 12 guides were killed by an avalanche that swept down a climbing route on Mt Everest. A search was ongoing for at least three more guides still missing following the deadliest ever single day on the world's highest mountain. Officials said the men were killed after the avalanche struck at around 6.30am on Friday as they were laying fixed ropes for other climbers. Rescue workers struggled to pull their bodies from mounds of snow and ice after they were struck just about Camp 2. Two men, who survived but suffered injuries, were lifted from the ice debris and flown by helicopter to Kathmandu. A spokesman for Nepal's Tourism Ministry, Mohan Krishna Sapkota, told the AFP news agency that all the climbers involved were of Nepali origin and had been preparing the route ahead of the main spring climbing season, which starts in a matter of days. "The sherpa guides were carrying up equipment and other necessities for climbers when the disaster happened," he said. Friday's deaths easily surpassed the previous highest number of deaths on Everest. That occurred on May 11 1996 when eight foreign climbers were killed in bad weather, an event that featured in journalist Jon Krakauer's book Into Thin Air. Six Nepalese guides died in an avalanche in 1970. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Sad times. I read that book, Into Thin Air, excellent read. Yet another reason not even entertain the idea of climbing anywhere remotely near Everest Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Ah thanks for reminding me about that book. I will get that. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Ski.....I think I still have it.....if u can PM me ur address, I'll send it to you if u want **Actually I don't seem to have it anymore....sorry ski! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Yeah good book Its a pity it was sherpas I know it's not nice when anyone dies but to die setting up kit for climbers is a bit of a bummer Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Especially now, when any damn fool with money can pay to be taken to the summit Link to post Share on other sites
gvm3373 4 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Yeah, 47,500 euros to be dragged up the mountain. Airfares not included. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 What's that the cost of? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 The licence to be allowed to climb Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Is there a similar system for Mt Granview? Link to post Share on other sites
gvm3373 4 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 You could probably buy Mt Granview for that amount. Just give it to the lady in the ticket office if you can wake her up. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I suppose the licence thing in a way is a deterrent for lots of people who might stupidly want to try. Doesn't stop the rich dudes though. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Nepalese guides on Mount Everest have decided to abandon this year's climbing season, to honour 16 colleagues killed in an avalanche last week. The decision throws the plans of hundreds of foreign mountaineers into chaos, with many of them waiting in base camp after paying tens of thousands of dollars to scale the world's highest peak. The Sherpas perform essential tasks on the 8,848-metre (29,029ft) mountain, carrying equipment and food, as well as repairing ladders and fixing ropes to reduce risks for their clients. "We had a long meeting this afternoon and we decided to stop our climbing this year to honour our fallen brothers. All Sherpas are united in this," one local guide, Tulsi Gurung, told AFP from base camp. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Money well spent Link to post Share on other sites
gvm3373 4 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Fools and their money are easily parted. There are plenty of other mountains out there. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Here's another one: Most fools don't have much money. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 How many of those climbers would be able to climb Everest without the Sherpa's going a head doing all the hard work, carrying all their shit up for them, carrying up the oxygen bottles. I had no idea until I watch the doco Everest - Beyond the Limit. The Sherpa's do all the work and sometimes will go up 3 or 4 times. I understand they get paid well compared Neapalese wages but when you hear that Western Guides get paid triple yet don't do half the work and half the risk of the sherpa's really is that fair???? I THINK NOT Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I had the privilege of meeting Sir Edmund Hillary in Shanghai when he did a talk and book signing for our top executives. A member of my team was asked to help him haul some books up to his room. I was horrified to hear that the team member said "it's not my job" and walked off. Typical mainlander mentality. Link to post Share on other sites
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