June 13, 2006--What Would Tenzing Norgay Say?

I still vividly remember the day back in 1953, yes here I go again talking about the good old days, when word filtered back from Nepal that Mount Everest had been “conquered” by Edmund Hillary. Many had tried, some had perished, but none had ever reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain. Until then.

When he returned to his base camp and then to England, details of his exploits emerged. How he needed to “race” to the summit because the air was so thin up there above the clouds that if he didn’t quickly get there and back to a lower altitude he would die for lack of oxygen. And then somewhat later, as history edged closer to the truth about the lives of “ordinary” people, we began to learn that he was not alone on the final ascent, but that he “was accompanied” by a Sherpa “guide,” initially unnamed. And later still we got to know his name, Tensing Norgay. And then there was even the hint of controversy—perhaps, just perhaps that person of color, Tensing, might have been the first to stand on the highest point on earth, with Hillary trailing behind. But still, a remarkable story. The stuff of legends.

It fired my youthful imagination and set me and my cousin Chuck out on a mission to “conquer” the grandest “peaks” of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York—the highest being Mount Marcy, elevation about 5,000 feet, just 14,035 less than Everest’s peak!

But since 1953, climbing Everest has become almost routine—more than 3,000 have reached the summit—just $16,000 per will get you a guide, equipped with the latest, lightest gear, including canisters of oxygen that you won’t even have to recycle or return for a deposit: all you need to do is toss them along the path where they will sit for all of eternity. And for that 16 grand, if you can’t make it all the way on your own, your guides will literally drag you up the final 400 or so meters. As the old commercial said, “We’ve come a long way baby.”

In my cynicism I should add that it is still a dangerous game. Your $16,000 doesn’t control the weather which can be unpredictable and wicked. So, about 300 have died en route. And like the discarded oxygen canisters, if you die trying, chances are you too will get to remain there in a frozen state (Walt Disney style) until, in a version of the words to “Our Love Is Here to Stay”--the Himalayas may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble; They’re only made of clay.

It can even tackier than that. According to a recent article in the NY Times (linked below), if a climber seems to be in the process of dying those along the path, heading up or down, just pass by too preoccupied to even pause--not with their oxygen running out. In fact, someone recently who was injured and thus abandoned was ignored by the more than 40 other climbers who were on the trail while he waited to expire. No one apparently even stopped to sit with him for a moment.

But then there is also the miraculous story of a 50 year-old Australian climber, Lincoln Hall, who was abandoned to die by his guides and climbing companions but somehow managed to survive for a few days until some Good Samaritan climber found him and sent for a rescue party. They got there in time to help him to safety.

Enough! I vote to put a locked chain across the trail so rich folks can move on to other daring pursuits. Like shopping.