We have all seen the movies, like Vertical Limit or Everest which glamorizes the mountain climbing experience. That is until something goes horribly wrong, and a daring rescue needs to be made. You might think that incidents like this don’t happen very often, but when it comes to Mt. Everest they do. Mt. Everest and K2 are the peaks that every professional mountaineer hopes to reach in their lifetimes. However, for the average climber, Mt. Everest may not be as appealing as you think.
The Cons
The cost of climbing Mt. Everest is exorbitantly high. Simply to get a permit to summit is $11,000 from the Nepalese government. On top of that, you have to pay for gear, guides, porters, cooks, and many other little things that add-up. Overall, you’re looking at around $40,000 for the whole expedition, and that is just the cost.
When it comes to actually climbing the mountain, there are two things you have to contend with – overcrowding and weather. Many wannabe climbers head to Mt. Everest thinking they will reach the Basecamp, and easily make their way to the peak. Mt. Everest is one of the most challenging mountains in the world. Unless you have trained your entire life, and summited a variety of other mountains, it is unlikely you are prepared for this one. On top of that, because so many people decide to attempt the climb, the mountain tends to get clogged with people. You will find yourself waiting in line like at a grocery store, simply to go up the mountain.
Last, but not least is Mother Nature. Bad weather can blow in at any time, it can be in the form of a blizzard or even a natural disaster like an avalanche. You must always be vigilant of the weather patterns. A storm that blows in quickly could be a killer, the same goes for an avalanche.
The Permit Process
Obtaining a permit to climb Mt. Everest is an easy process. The Nepalese government does not have a finite amount of passes. Instead, they simply sell them to whoever can afford it, and that is what contributes to the overcrowding. There are ways that this could be fixed. For example, the government could limit the amount of passes issued per month. That would limit the amount of climbers on the mountain at any one time. Climbers should also have to provide a health check, along with a resume of their climbing background. This would help to eliminate the issue of inexperienced climbers attempting the mountain, and possibly harming themselves and those around them.
Overall, climbing Mt. Everest is something that should not be taken lightly. If you are an experienced climber, then get your pass and summit that mountain! If you’re not an experienced climber, then start practicing, you will get there eventually.