Lots of dead bodies on Mt. Everest.

[Rick Lee]

Can't help but to look at this. Interesting stuff.

Dead bodies on Mount Everest - Imgur

[widgeon13]

Going to be a mess if it melts.

"Brave climbers moved him into the Sun in an attempt to thaw him but eventually, realizing David would be unable to move, were forced to leave him to die."

From my perspective it doesn't say anything good about the people that try to summit the mountain.

[porsche4life]

Stunning photos. Hard to believe so many attempt it every year and walk by all of those reminders.

[motion]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Going to be a mess if it melts.

"Brave climbers moved him into the Sun in an attempt to thaw him but eventually, realizing David would be unable to move, were forced to leave him to die."

From my perspective it doesn't anything good about the people that try to summit the mountain.

Agree. Not sure I could pass somebody by who can still say their name, but can't move, just for my own selfish reasons.

[widgeon13]

My thought as well.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by motion

Agree. Not sure I could pass somebody by who can still say their name, but can't move, just for my own selfish reasons.

I couldn't do it. Just looking at the pictures makes my heart ache. To hear somebody pleading to save them... Makes me want to weep. And to know they were just going to die? I don't understand. Never.

[Baz]

Why couldn't a helicopter get in there to rescue these climbers?

[widgeon13]

Most people who climb will say they are prepared to die and at the stage they are at (almost frozen solid) it is most likely impossible to get them off the mountain alive. You would certainly be jeopardizing your own wellbeing but still, I couldn't do it, walk by someone knowing I am leaving them to die.

I would rather not put myself in the position of having to make that decision.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by Baz

Why couldn't a helicopter get in there to rescue these climbers?

In some cases it is higher than their service ceiling.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

most people who climb will say they are prepared to die and at the stage they are at (almost frozen solid) it is most likely impossible to get them off the mountain alive. You would certainly be jeopardizing your own wellbeing but still, i couldn't do it, walk by someone knowing i am leaving them to die.

I would rather not put myself in the position of having to make that decision.

exactly!!!!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

In some cases it is higher than their service ceiling.

OK thanks - I don't know that much about helicopters and their limitations.

When you see them in the movies it seems they can go just about everywhere and do about everything when it comes to rescue.

[Rick Lee]

I think everyone knows going in that it's every man for himself once it gets dicey up there. I don't mean that they can't help each other, but there's no point in risking your own life to recover a dead body, especially that of a stranger who knew perfectly well what he was getting into. It's not like you can bring him back down. What else can you do but keep going?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Baz

OK thanks - I don't know that much about helicopters and their limitations.

When you see them in the movies it seems they can go just about everywhere and do about everything when it comes to rescue.

Just about everywhere and everything is a lot lower than Everest.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Baz

Why couldn't a helicopter get in there to rescue these climbers?

It's not easy even for a helicopter, but apparently in some cases it is now being done

First Helicopter Landing on Everest's Summit @ National Geographic Adventure Magazine

Rescue Helicopters are Saving Lives of Everest Climbers | Mountaineering | OutsideOnline.com

[Baz]

Originally Posted by widebody911

It's not easy even for a helicopter, but apparently in some cases it is now being done

First Helicopter Landing on Everest's Summit @ National Geographic Adventure Magazine

Rescue Helicopters are Saving Lives of Everest Climbers | Mountaineering | OutsideOnline.com

Thanks for the links, WB.

From the first link:

Does this flight improve the prospects for future rescue operations?
The thought of rescuing climbers was one of the things that motivated me to do this project. But the forces I encountered were so powerful that to guarantee a safe flight you'd have to design a more powerful copter.

Still, you managed to mount a rescue while you were there.
Yes. I rescued two Japanese climbers at 16,000 feet (4,877 meters). It would have been impossible for the small Nepalese helicopters. But for me, it was no problem.

[craigster59]

Having served, and it being Veterans Day, you never leave a Brother/ Sister behind no matter what. Even if he/ she was gone, you turn around and bring him/ her home , screw the summit. I don't know how they live with themselves.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Having served, and it being Veterans Day, you never leave a Brother/ Sister behind no matter what. Even if he/ she was gone, you turn around and bring him/ her home , screw the summit. I don't know how they live with themselves.

I know you're smarter than this. You can't bring anyone down from there. Even attempting is a guaranteed death sentence, which means you'll both be stuck up there.

[masraum]

I was curious once, so I did a little Internet research. I think I remember that something like around 10% of people that try to climb Everest end up dead. Those odds are too bad for me. It's my understanding that once you get to the point that most folks die (way up there), the folks that you are with are only just barely to get themselves up and down and don't have the extra energy/ability to try to bring someone that is injured or incapacitated down as well.

[widgeon13]

My wife's stepsister summited Gasherbrum I. Before she left for the trip she met my wife at JFK and gave her a last will and testament. She didn't know what the outcome would be. She was one woman in a climbing party of eleven and it took 200+ Sherpas to carry all the gear and set up various camps.

Saw her presentation the summer following her return. It is truly and amazing tale. Nice lady and amazing guts.

[Bugsinrugs]

I do believe that when you are around 25-28,000 ft. elevation these climbers can barely take care of themselves let alone try to rescue another. Not saying it is right but it seems they know going in that if they have a problem they are probably going to die. I am perfectly happy hiking Half Dome. That is hard enough!