Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest. There are 100 things that can kill you climbing Everest. If people are not taking personal responsibility, coming with the right experience, understanding of how they personally adapt to the lack of oxygen from previous 8,000m peaks, of course people are going to keep dying on Mount Everest, in a place which is called the death zone with 33% oxygen in their system to keep them alive. Why are people dying on the mountain ?
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
What is more shocking is people dying on the trail and trek to Everest base camp.This should definitely not be happening and people racing up the trail, spending less nights acclimatizing to the lack of oxygen is not acceptable. From my 30 journeys up and down the trail to Everest and standing on the summit, I would say 40% of people are coming in the wrong gear and without putting in the necessary physical conditioning needed to make this journey. The Everest Base Camp Trek is for Trekkers not Tourist.
Hans Sundstrom from Sweden describing what he witnessed of a death on the Everest trial at 4,920m in Lobuche just a few weeks ago.
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
‘I was met with a very disturbing scene as I walked into camp at Lobuche where 6 or 7 Sherpas were carrying a lifeless person in a sleeping bag to the helicopter pad. When we got into the teahouse the ambiance was eery suggesting that something bad had happened. There were initial comments made by various guests suggesting that someone had died. It soon became apparent that it was a 67 year old Korean trekker who had died just minutes ago. He had suffered from gradually increasing AMS symptoms all the way since Namche bazaar 3,440m and ignored his Nepalese guide’s advice to stop and descend. He had reached Gorak Shep 5,180m and possibly EBC when symptoms became so strong he had agreed to descend. He rode into Lobuche where he collapsed in front of the tea house. The staff tried to administer both oxygen and dexamethazone all of which to no avail. He died right on the spot.
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
Everyone is talking about death high on Mount Everest
There are local companies rushing people up the trail fast, clients are getting sick and have be be evacuated off the trail. Also clients are telling local guides how fast they want to walk and dictating the pace and how their trip should run. This has to stop.
Altitude sickness is real. Pacing each day of the 13/14 days trekking, along with additional nights (3 NIGHTS) is needed around Namche Bazaar (3,500m/ 11,500 feet) to give people the best chance to making it safely to Everest and more importantly being able to walk back down after having one of the best experiences of their life.
If you are considering the trek to Everest you need the best acclimatization schedule to give you the best chance at a safe and enjoyable experience. Get training, get prepared and respect this mountain environment. Your achievment will be crowned by having successfully trekked up to Everest base camp and Kala Phattar but the achievement is in having a life changing journey and experience that challenges you to be better take on bigger challenges in your life and grow from and develop from such an experience. Not pushing low oxygen environments, cutting corners and days of acclimatization. Think of your safety and the safety of our staff and fellow trekkers when you sign up for a trek.