13 Dead on Everest

Deadliest Acceident - Avalanche

The article doesn't say much as it's probably too soon to know a lot anyway. Apparently most were Sherpas in a group of about 50. Quite a few more are still missing. Sad news. Thoughts go out to the families and friends.

This is terrible. So sad for the community and families of the victims.

superkick wrote:Damn..hit the rope fixing team... pretty sure this is the deadliest avalanche on Everest ive ever heard of..wasnt even the icefall either. Wonder what this means for the climbing season. cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/as…

moved from other thread

Max Forbes wrote:Horrible tragedy, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected.

Terrible news. I lived in Nepal for a good while and was always amazed by the hospitality and hard work of folks in the villages. It is worth mentioning "Sherpa", as many here probably know, is a people group, and that some who work as guides and porters on Everest and other Himalayan peaks belong to other people groups - sometimes indicated by the last name.

So bummed to hear this news... prayers are with the families and the situation in general as it unfolds.

If you're interested in helping the victims of this tragedy and their families financially, the American Alpine Club has established their "Sherpa Support Fund".

From the AAC website:
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In remembrance of the Sherpa guides killed on April 18, 2014 by an avalanche on Mount Everest.

The Sherpa Support Fund has been established by the American Alpine Club to lend aid and support to the families of these fallen climbers and the communities affected by this tragedy.
-------------------
You can donate at americanalpineclub.org/p/sh…

I know, for me, my thoughts on the state of climbing on Everest are mixed. Those who died or were inured in the accident, however, are undeniably great climbers who reap little to nothing in the way of financial rewards or fame for their efforts. So sad to hear about this.

^^^ that is a great idea. Those families lost their bread winners. Sad.

Sherpas are now contemplating a strike:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/world/asia/after-everest-disaster-sherpas-contemplate-strike.html?hp&_r=0

Sherpas are abandoning Everest for the season:

channelnewsasia.com/news/as…

jonathan.lipkin wrote:Sherpas are abandoning Everest for the season: channelnewsasia.com/news/as…

Interesting.

im entirely ignorant on the subject....but i feel like this is going in the right direction...now people will actually have to climb everest and not be short roped up it???

sad that so many people died up there this year and years past

rock_fencer wrote:im entirely ignorant on the subject....but i feel like this is going in the right direction...now people will actually have to climb everest and not be short roped up it??? sad that so many people died up there this year and years past

Doesn't seem likely that guiding on Everest will end. It's too lucrative for all involved.

Seems like the options are:

1. The government and guide companies pony up the requested death benefits for the families of the guides who were killed. Local guides negotiate increased pay and benefits. The season starts back up a little late.

2. The season is over due to mourning. Local guides negotiate increased pay and benefits. Guiding starts again next season, hopefully after resolving most of the tension that has been building within the local community.

We saw the tension bubble to the surface with the conflict last season and this is another catalyst in what could be a Sherpa/Nepali guide labor movement.

MarktheCPA wrote: Doesn't seem likely that guiding on Everest will end. It's too lucrative for all involved. Seems like the options are: 1. The government and guide companies pony up the requested death benefits for the families of the guides who were killed. Local guides negotiate increased pay and benefits. The season starts back up a little late. 2. The season is over due to mourning. Local guides negotiate increased pay and benefits. Guiding starts again next season, hopefully after resolving most of the tension that has been building within the local community. We saw the tension bubble to the surface with the conflict last season and this is another catalyst in what could be a Sherpa/Nepali guide labor movement.

ya i meant potentially for the season not eternity...climbing that mountain is a giant economic boon for many

Super tragic news. I hope they do go on strike. Rich bastards from other countries taking advantage of the local people. The local people should be living like kings, instead it's other people off the Sherpas blood sweat and tears. My opinion, the local people should be the ones making all the money since they are doing 95% of the work. It's been coming a long time. Good for them finally waking up to it...

I for one hope they go on strike. Although I'm sure it won't make a bit of difference in the end, at least cause a little pain in those too fat and lazy to climb a mountain on their own. Make them spend that tens of thousands of dollars again next year to be dragged to the top by a team of sherpas. This is just another glaring example of the Sherpas putting themselves in the real danger and doing all the work, just so a couple westerners won't have to learn how to use an ice axe or any other essential mountaineering skills. Fucking disgrace to all that is mountaineering and to those whom find themselves at home in the mountains. The Sherpas included.

The inevitable deterioration of this thread hath begun.

From "deepest condolences" to berating people that (gasp) get guided up Everest.

Carry on...

FrankPS wrote:The inevitable deterioration of this thread hath begun. From "deepest condolences" to berating people that (gasp) get guided up Everest. Carry on...

The only reason those 13 souls were lost and not 13 westerners is because they were doing the hard stuff, the dangerous part. They were risking their lives so others could be "guided" to the top. I'm sorry but if this is your idea of a guided climbing expedition you are sorely mistaken.



They are even going to put ladders up the Hilary step "in order to cut down on congestion."

So the final rock/ice wall that has thwarted hundreds of oh so close climbers just steps from the summit is now going to be bypassed by an aluminum ladder. Sweet, what awesome "guiding" they are doing up there!!

There would be no berating of anyone if these lives lost were those of people trying to claim personal glory. Instead it was some of the most generous and caring people on this planet. Doing a thankless job for people who then turn around and pretend they are some big mountain climbing bad ass. There is a reason all those killed were sherpas, westerners are too afraid to go up there right now and too weak to deal with the actual climbing required. The fact that the "climbers" are trying to throw money at this situation and pay off some sherpas to allow them to fulfill their dreams of standing in line to touch the summit. It just goes to show these people do not care about the sherpas or anyone else for that matter.

ChefMattThaner wrote: The only reason those 13 souls were lost and not 13 westerners is because they were doing the hard stuff, the dangerous part. They were risking their lives so others could be "guided" to the top. I'm sorry but if this is your idea of a guided climbing expedition you are sorely mistaken. They are even going to put ladders up the Hilary step "in order to cut down on congestion." So the final rock/ice wall that has thwarted hundreds of oh so close climbers just steps from the summit is now going to be bypassed by a aluminum ladder. Sweet, what awesome "guiding" they are doing up there!! There would be no berating of anyone if these lives lost were those of people trying to claim personal glory. Instead it was some of the most generous and caring people on this planet. Doing a thankless job for people who then turn around and pretend they are some big mountain climbing bad ass. There is a reason all those killed were sherpas, westerners are too afraid to go up there right now and too weak to deal with the actual climbing required. The fact that the "climbers" are trying to throw money at this situation and pay off some sherpas to allow them to fulfill their dreams of standing in line to touch the summit. It just goes to show these people do not care about the sherpas or anyone else for that matter.

Just curious how much time you've spent in the himalayas?

I'm guessing none. Maybe less.

Yes, the Sherpa expose themselves to much much more risk when "guiding" than most western climbing parties do, but they make very very good money (by Nepalese standards) doing so. They can earn up to $6000 a season. Compare that to the average salary in Nepal - $700, and it's no wonder why they will continue their trade despite the inherent risk... as long as westerners are pocketing out that cash.

It's a complicated issue. On the one hand, their lives are at stake. On the other, their livelihood. I hope some good can come out of this; better standards, benefits, wages...etc...?

And yeah, I think we can all agree that Sherpas are probably better mountaineers than many of the western climbers that "mitigate" their risk by outsourcing the laps, gear lugging, and ladder/rope setting. I hope this doesn't become a crap-tastic thread about the merits of Everest ascentionists, or lack there of. I'm guessing that doing anything at 25,000+ feet is still no picnic, whether you have a Sherpa helping you or not.

again,,??I thought this was an old story,,how sad once more.