There's been a lot of headlines about this, but this piece adds context from those on the mountain and goes beyond the hyperbolized news, and given it's not super lengthy is worth the read.
Good read! I missed the headlines (because I’m living on Mars?) but I’m glad to have discovered this. Thx Kelly! Lots to think about.
That one photo is CRAZY. I can see how it would cause a ruckus on social media. Way less nuts: only ~400 permits were issued in 2019.
I’ve been to Nepal and trekked Annapurna. It was stunning. I saw almost no Westerners the entire time. I was expecting this article (based on the headline) to be about the impact of tourism on the local communities and way of life. On that topic, I’d be down to read several hour-long articles!
What makes humans cool (gotta climb the tallest peak!) is also a bit sad. I sometimes feel like I can see, with vivid clarity, how we’re going to cause our own undoing. “Disturbing” is perhaps too strong of a word; maybe “unsettling” is better. “Curious” would be the most diplomatic.
This is probably an oversimplification, but I think it’s a bummer that if you’re in semi-solid shape you can “buy” your way up, with fancy equipment and guidance.
Ok, so here’s a semi-joke that’s also a serious thought experiment: Rather than be strict about permits, the Nepalis at baseamp should just take everything away from you - oxygen tanks, expensive synthetic gear, ropes and lines and stuff. And if you wanna get up on your own hands and feet and lungs, go for it. Way fewer (almost 0) would try and a lot more people would die, but the achievement would actually mean something again and it would solve the “traffic” problem. Then, when a bunch of people can do that, up the ante even more: you gotta do it naked.
That is insane. Waiting in line for 2 hours using up all your oxygen!! Stepping over dead people! Unbelievable!
There's been a lot of headlines about this, but this piece adds context from those on the mountain and goes beyond the hyperbolized news, and given it's not super lengthy is worth the read.
Good read! I missed the headlines (because I’m living on Mars?) but I’m glad to have discovered this. Thx Kelly! Lots to think about.
That one photo is CRAZY. I can see how it would cause a ruckus on social media. Way less nuts: only ~400 permits were issued in 2019.
I’ve been to Nepal and trekked Annapurna. It was stunning. I saw almost no Westerners the entire time. I was expecting this article (based on the headline) to be about the impact of tourism on the local communities and way of life. On that topic, I’d be down to read several hour-long articles!
What makes humans cool (gotta climb the tallest peak!) is also a bit sad. I sometimes feel like I can see, with vivid clarity, how we’re going to cause our own undoing. “Disturbing” is perhaps too strong of a word; maybe “unsettling” is better. “Curious” would be the most diplomatic.
This is probably an oversimplification, but I think it’s a bummer that if you’re in semi-solid shape you can “buy” your way up, with fancy equipment and guidance.
Ok, so here’s a semi-joke that’s also a serious thought experiment: Rather than be strict about permits, the Nepalis at baseamp should just take everything away from you - oxygen tanks, expensive synthetic gear, ropes and lines and stuff. And if you wanna get up on your own hands and feet and lungs, go for it. Way fewer (almost 0) would try and a lot more people would die, but the achievement would actually mean something again and it would solve the “traffic” problem. Then, when a bunch of people can do that, up the ante even more: you gotta do it naked.