MovieChat Forums > Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006) Discussion > I cant rationalize it

I cant rationalize it

posted 17 years ago by JRA81984
21 replies | jump to latest

I dont quite understand why these men are killing themselves to reach the summit... better yet ruining their lives for the sake of climbing the worlds highest mountain.

These people's bodies get ravaged by the aftermath of frostbite, and lose fingers and limbs. Some people die as a result of it. How do people rationalize this? Instead of putting their bodies in this extreme face of death why dont they push their bodies to safer limits?

How many people have climbed everest?

[–] Geology_Sage 17 years ago

It's something alot of people simply can't understand...

You climb the mountain, simply because it is there. I don't know how else to put it, it's just that.

briansouter- "the word 'credible' is meaningless...what do u mean by that word?"

[–] kimilseung 17 years ago

--edit
As of the end of the 2004 climbing season, 2,238 people had reached the summit (1,148 of them since 1998){http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everest}
--end edit
most of them are comparatively recent with the explosion in commercial climbs

"because its there" isnt answer enough
why do the peeps climb this mountain and not more challenging mountains ?
or easier mountains under their own preparations ?

its something cultural
I think Everest is in many ways the non-mountaineers mountain

[–] Geology_Sage 17 years ago

It's the tallest mountain on the planet... the highest point at which one can stand on the ground... they go there because of what it is.

If they wanted a more interesting challenge they would do it... but they don't want that, they want to be able to say that they've stood on the roof of the world.

briansouter- "the word 'credible' is meaningless...what do u mean by that word?"

[–] Avant-garde_Addict 17 years ago

It's a matter of personal passion and satisfaction. I'd assume the people who attempt mount everest believe it is their "calling" and is the source of their ultimate satisfaction in life. The everest climbers fall under the rare breed of people that simply "have" to accomplish a particular task(s) in order to satisfy their definition of a full life, even if it includes risking life and limb. It's a combination of extreme passion, desire, motivation, risk and glory. The people who attempt such extreme challenges don't do it for others; they do it for themselves. It's a personal life-long quest they cannot pry themselves away from. Some people dream of playing for the Yankees, others dream of starring in a film, and some dream of climbing mount everest.

The question "why do people do it" can be applied to many extreme acts in life. It's all relative. What is insane to the general public can make perfect sense to others. Personally, I believe climbing mount everest is crazy, but I realize that I think this way because I don't share their passion.

[–] yagazuzi 17 years ago

^Well said Avant-garde!

[–] suelangland 17 years ago

I believe that you hit the nail on the head Avant-garde. Still as fascinated as i am by Everest, and Mt Climbing (I live in WA State and see Mt Rainer every day) I have no interest in climbing myself. What bothers me somewhat, is that climbing Everest is a pursuit for the wealthy...and these people have polluted the pristine environment of the Mountain...but, on the other hand, it allows the Sherpas employed to make a good living that they wouldn't otherwise be able to in their countries...so I am very divided about the whole thing...

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] TeeWee30 16 years ago

"...and these people have polluted the pristine environment of the Mountain."
suelangland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been wondering about this. I would not call myself an environmentalist however I saw a pic of the summit and it was a mess!
There were flags and debris all over it!
I'm surprised the government hasn't cracked down on the climbers to pick up after themselves or fine the companies if their camps are making a mess.
How do they handle waste management in the camps?

__________________________
Greetings,
Need I say more? You are remembered.

[–] Thrusthamster 15 years ago

"I'm surprised the government hasn't cracked down on the climbers to pick up after themselves or fine the companies if their camps are making a mess.
How do they handle waste management in the camps?"
They have, actually, expeditions to clean up the mountain seem to become more frequent, and you have to pay a deposit which will be returned after you come back from the mountain with a certain amount of waste I think.

[–] kidric3 16 years ago

Because there is no such thing as a "Safe Extreme" Why do people jump out of airplanes and depend on a parachute to safely take them down? Parachutes can tangle and so can the safety chute, it's happened before. Why do people go to the Moon? why depend on a spaceship with the processing power of a calculator to take you 300 thousand some odd miles into space, land on the moon, get out and walk around. You might not come back but people do it. If everyone played it safely well the world would be a lot less interesting.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Doug_Steckel 16 years ago

>------------------------------------------------------------------------------>--
>How many people have climbed everest?
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------>--
>
>Not many, really. Less than a dozen or so. The rest of the people who’ve been >on the summit were pushed/pulled/hauled up and down or got there via some >other artificial means.
>

Please explain in more detail the "pushed/pulled/hauled artificial means" you are referencing. Not sure what you mean.

[–] downhell 16 years ago

Doug Steckel:
">------------------------------------------------------------------------------>--
>How many people have climbed everest?
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------>--
>
>Not many, really. Less than a dozen or so. The rest of the people who’ve been >on the summit were pushed/pulled/hauled up and down or got there via some >other artificial means.
> "

totaly agree with you!!!

...but I don't think the Sherpas are artificial...

[–] pepu2 16 years ago

To really claim that you have climbed the mountain: Well, I would say, carry yourself all your own stuff from ABC and use only the ropes, ladders that you have fixed yourself. Basically Alpine style and either without oxigen or only the oxigen you carry yourself. That would really leave very few climbers who have actually done that.
For example on the south ridge there is so called Hillary step ~30ft cliff very close to the summit deep in the death zone that requires good technical climbing skills. If there would not be ladders mounted on that cliff, only the very best climbers would be able to use that route. The same about north ridge and second step.

[–] Jolamadurinn 13 years ago

Every single person that actually used their two legs to walk up the mountain have the right to say they really climbed it.

[–] Dmk08 16 years ago

There are 2 personality types, those who do, and get it, and those who don't and don't get it. it's plain and simple

[–] charles-messer 14 years ago

George Mallory (who may or may not have reached the summit 30 years earlier than Edmund Hillary; the point is moot, because he never made it down) uttered the 3 most famous words in mountaineering history when, in response to "Why climb Everest?", he retorted "Because it's there."

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tjaa_11 13 years ago

Police, military, firemen and other occupations also risk their lives every day. And when/if they succeed to reach the Everest, I'd assume it's like being reborn: an experience you will NEVER forget.

[–] defcon79 11 years ago

Because Everest is in many ways, the 'pinnacle' of human achievement yet easily accessible to these people with enough money. The clients are Type-A people who want the biggest thrills in life, something they will derive satisfaction from the rest of their lives and have a story to tell, and yet there is minimal expertise required. You pay enough money and a whole team of guides and Sherpas will push you up. The risks are there because of the high altitude, not the difficulty of the climb itself.

I have much more respect for the real climbers, people who do Alpine style ascents, and those who respect the mountain as well as the native people (Sherpas) who live there. The clients in this show, esp idiots like Tim, are not climbers in any sense of the word.