Fascination with the fatal mountain .... more death on Mount Everest.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/fascination-with-the-fatal-mountain/article2443919/

Fascination with the fatal mountain ....** more death on Everest.

By: WADE DAVIS

From Saturday's Globe and Mail. Toronto,Canada

Published Saturday, May. 26, 2012 2:00AM EDT

Last updated Sunday, May. 27, 2012 9:56PM EDT

** Shriya Shah-Klorfine, of Toronto, CANADA.

The Canadian woman has died pursuing her dream of scaling Mount Everest.


Comment woodbuck27:

Were you aware that for every ten climbers that make the climb to the summit of Mount Everest one climber dies in that pursuit. What's your opinion on the sense of such a gruelling and extremely dangerous focus in one's life. How may people suffer have suffered the selfishness of that dream with Mount Everest taking a death toll of some 400 climbers and Sherpa guides?

Shriya Shah-Klorfine added her body to the 400 or more corpses that litter the flanks and ice fields of Mount Everest. Three others died the day she did. Old and young, men and women, a German, a South Korean and a Chinese. In spite of urgings by her Sherpa guides to turn back, Ms. Shah-Klorfine insisted on reaching the summit, which she did, though it meant her death on the descent as a result of oxygen depletion.

If you ever want to read a decent book on what to scale Everest means I recommend 'Into Thin Air' a personal account of his climb and the disater involved in that effort by climber and author Jon Krakauer.

When many of us might struggle with trying to climb to the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. What is it that drives people with the same fascination to follow the footsteps of George Mallory and the first Canadian on Everest **Oliver Wheeler (1921) from Tibet to the North Col, and from its crest a long slog up the shoulder of the North Ridge to the Northeast Ridge and ultimately the base of the summit pyramid?

Of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who in 1953 trekked through Nepal, made their way through the notorious Khumbu Icefall and climbed the ice face of the Western Cwm to reach the South Col before enduring a brutal final ascent that took them to the summit?

** It was Oliver Wheeler who discovered the doorway to the mountain from the north, up the East Rongbuk Glacier to the North Col, and from its crest a long slog up the shoulder of the North Ridge to the Northeast Ridge and ultimately the base of the summit pyramid.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/how-everests-death-zone-claimed-a-canadian/article2441421/

TRAGEDY ATOP THE WORLDHow Everest’s ‘death zone’ claimed a CanadianTU THANH HA AND RENATA D’ALIESIOFrom Thursday's Globe and MailPublished Wednesday, May. 23, 2012 3:41PM EDTLast updated Friday, May. 25, 2012 12:07PM EDT

" ... Ms. Shah-Klorfine’s outfitter, Ganesh Thakuri, wanted her to turn around.

“Please sister, don’t push yourself. If you feel weak, please go back. You can come next year, try to climb next year. Don’t push yourself, it might kill you,” Mr. Thakuri said.

“I really want to go. I really want to reach the top,” she replied.

By the end of the day, the 33-year-old Canadian woman was one of four who died on Everest Saturday, worn out by the cold, the lack of oxygen and the long climb. " Fr. LINK

Please click on the LINK for this story.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/israeli-everest-climber-skips-summit-rescues-turkish-friend/article2443344/

Israeli Everest climber skips summit, rescues Turkish friend. CHRISTOPHER TORCHIAISTANBUL— The Associated PressPublished Friday, May. 25, 2012 8:34AM EDTLast updated Friday, May. 25, 2012 8:37AM EDT

"An Israeli who rescued a distressed climber on Mount Everest instead of pushing onward to the summit said Friday that the man he helped, an American of Turkish origin, is like a brother to him.

Nadav Ben-Yehuda, who was climbing with a Sherpa guide, came across Aydin Irmak near the summit last weekend. In that chaotic period, four climbers died on their way down from the summit amid a traffic jam of more than 200 people who were rushing to reach the world's highest peak as the weather deteriorated.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Mr. Ben-Yehuda, 24, appeared proud that Mr. Irmak, 46, had made it to the summit, noting that he is one of a small number of “Turkish” climbers to reach the top. Mr. Irmak left Turkey for New York more than two decades ago, but remains proud of his Turkish heritage. The friendship stands in contrast to the political tension between Turkey and Israel, which were once firm allies. " Fr. LINK

Please click on the LINK for the whole story.

[Joemailman]

I think you should give it a go.

[George Cumby]

Where's the tragedy?

These people go up there, knowing full well they could die up there.

It ain't no fucking wienie roast at high elevation and one never knows how one is going to react.

Go up one year and you're fine, go up the next, you're fine, go up the next, WHAM! pulmonary and cerebral edema hit you like Snake slapping his pecker.

Not to mention weather, avalanche and all other objective hazards.

Too bad for the families, but shit, you go above 8,000 m and you just got into a bad part of the probability curve.

[Upnorth]

Personal choice. I don't feel sorry for the drunk driver that gets killed, but I feel sorry for the people who cared about them. If this lady communicated her 'passion' to her loved ones then they should at least respect the fact she died for her 'passion'. It would still hurt like a bugger, however they can take some solace.

[woodbuck27]

I think you should give it a go.

I think your disgusting.

[woodbuck27]

Where's the tragedy?

These people go up there, knowing full well they could die up there.

It ain't no fucking wienie roast at high elevation and one never knows how one is going to react.

Go up one year and you're fine, go up the next, you're fine, go up the next, WHAM! pulmonary and cerebral edema hit you like Snake slapping his pecker.

Not to mention weather, avalanche and all other objective hazards.

Too bad for the families, but shit, you go above 8,000 m and you just got into a bad part of the probability curve.

The people that take on this ordeal, certainly are aware that the chances of disaster (or death) is 1 in 10. They also know that some of the very most experienced and fit climbers have been defeated by Everest. I again refer you to the awesome account of an expedition and tragedy in the book 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Krakauer

[George Cumby]

The people that take on this ordeal, certainly are aware that the chances of disaster (or death) is 1 in 10. They also know that some of the very most experienced and fit climbers have been defeated by Everest. I again refer you to the awesome account of an expedition and tragedy in the book 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Krakauer

Ain't no one defeats that or any mountain. Like all other high-risk endeavor it is in an exercise in self-mastery.

The mountain will be there long after all of us are gone.

[Little Whiskey]

its not a matter of "if", its "when".

just like that stupid ass grandma who jumped out of an airplane. she almost fell out of the harness. why do stupid shit.

[Freak Out]

Doing stupid shit can be loads of fun....if you survive.

[MadScientist]

Doing stupid shit can be loads of fun....if you survive.

http://demotivators.despair.com/demotivational/overconfidencedemotivator.jpg

[woodbuck27]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/days-after-deaths-more-climbers-attempt-everest-summit/article2443336/

Days after deaths, more climbers attempt Everest summit.

BY: BINAJ GURUBACHARYA

KATMANDU, Nepal— The Associated Press
Published Friday, May. 25, 2012 8:21AM EDT
Last updated Friday, May. 25, 2012 12:38PM EDT

" More than 3,000 people have climbed Everest since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to do so in 1953. Some 225 climbers have died attempting it.

The deadliest day was May 10, 1996, when eight people were killed. The main reason was said to be that climbers who started their ascent late in the day were caught in a snowstorm in the afternoon and lost their way.

The climbing season normally runs from late March to the first week in June, but this year the season's first clear conditions were only last weekend. " Fr. LINK

[woodbuck27]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/body-of-canadian-everest-climber-taken-off-mountain-by-helicopter/article2446147/

Body of Canadian Everest climber taken off mountain by helicopter.

BY: Oliver Moore

Globe and Mail Update
Published Tuesday, May. 29, 2012 5:14AM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, May. 29, 2012 7:57AM EDT


" Ganesh Thakuri, the Utmost Adventure Trekking expedition manager who has been spearheading the recovery, said that a brief weather window allowed the aircraft to reach camp 2, which sits at about 6,500 metres.

“The helicopter went ... in the morning and brought the body down,” he said from Nepal Tuesday. “We took [the] body to hospital and handed to [her] family.”

The body had earlier been brought from 7,800 metres down to camp 2 in a marathon effort by a trio of Sherpas. Its arrival in Kathmandu caps a week of tragedy and waiting for Ms. Shah-Klorfine’s family and friends.

Several of those close to Ms. Shah-Klorfine said the retrieval was crucial because of the importance of cremation in the Hindu faith.

“If they don’t do a cremation the soul won’t have peace,” Priya Ahuja, a friend, explained earlier.

The dead climber was born in Kathmandu, raised in Mumbai and lived most recently in Toronto. Her husband, Bruce Klorfine, came to Nepal to receive her remains, which were to be cremated there. He could not be reached since his arrival.

Ms. Shah-Klorfine struggled but reached the summit of Everest last week. Her death, on the descent, is being blamed on altitude and exhaustion. The rest of the team left her where she collapsed, routine practice at the highest and most dangerous parts of the mountain." Fr. LINK

[George Cumby]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/body-of-canadian-everest-climber-taken-off-mountain-by-helicopter/article2446147/

Body of Canadian Everest climber taken off mountain by helicopter.

BY: Oliver Moore

Globe and Mail Update
Published Tuesday, May. 29, 2012 5:14AM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, May. 29, 2012 7:57AM EDT


" Ganesh Thakuri, the Utmost Adventure Trekking expedition manager who has been spearheading the recovery, said that a brief weather window allowed the aircraft to reach camp 2, which sits at about 6,500 metres.

“The helicopter went ... in the morning and brought the body down,” he said from Nepal Tuesday. “We took [the] body to hospital and handed to [her] family.”

The body had earlier been brought from 7,800 metres down to camp 2 in a marathon effort by a trio of Sherpas. Its arrival in Kathmandu caps a week of tragedy and waiting for Ms. Shah-Klorfine’s family and friends.

Several of those close to Ms. Shah-Klorfine said the retrieval was crucial because of the importance of cremation in the Hindu faith.

“If they don’t do a cremation the soul won’t have peace,” Priya Ahuja, a friend, explained earlier.

The dead climber was born in Kathmandu, raised in Mumbai and lived most recently in Toronto. Her husband, Bruce Klorfine, came to Nepal to receive her remains, which were to be cremated there. He could not be reached since his arrival.

Ms. Shah-Klorfine struggled but reached the summit of Everest last week. Her death, on the descent, is being blamed on altitude and exhaustion. The rest of the team left her where she collapsed, routine practice at the highest and most dangerous parts of the mountain." Fr. LINK

Now here's some real studs. If you think Clay is Bad-Ass, think about what these Sherpas just did, a body recovery at 25,000'. That, ladies and gents is serious shit.