Everest summits smash records amid deadly bottlenecks
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
A record 885 people climbed Everest in May this year, figures showed Tuesday, capping a deadly traffic-clogged season that also saw 11 climbers die on the world's highest mountain.
The number smashed last year's record of 807 summits despite a short weather window that resulted in fatal bottlenecks on the peak.
[...]A traffic jam forced teams to wait for hours in freezing temperatures to reach Everest's 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) summit and then descend, increasing the risk of frostbite, altitude sickness and exhaustion from depleted oxygen levels.
Experts said too many of the new wave of mountaineer tourists were ill-prepared and inexperienced. Others have called for a cut in the number of climbing permits, or tougher standards for guides.
[...]A government team re-measuring the height of Everest also reached the top.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday June 20 2019, @06:48AM (2 children)
Climbing Mount Everest? Or driving a cab?
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @07:02AM
Is it a wolf's cab?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 21 2019, @10:50AM
Climbing Mount Everest is more dangerous. 1-2% death rate.
http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/EverestAgeFat.shtml [adventurestats.com]
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-20-deadliest-jobs-in-america-ranked/11/ [cbsnews.com]
FWIW one of the most dangerous jobs is President of the USA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_assassination_attempts_and_plots [wikipedia.org]