First, let me say that the 52 list has undergone drastic changes, it now has 56 books and not all the ones that were there before are there now. I will need to update the list on here eventually, but I can't do it this very instant so it will have to wait.
Now that I've covered that. I shall move on to the book
Into Thin Air was a firsthand account of what happened on Mount Everest in 1996, the year of the deadliest climbing season in the history of Everest, or at least Everest as we know it.
Written by Jon Krakauer, the book provides a detailed account of the expedition, as well as giving the history of other expeditions, most of them unsuccessful.
I found it incredible that, despite the vast experience of the Sherpas and expedition guide, and the extensive amount of equipment designed for high-altitude climbing, that Everest is still such a dangerous task
I also find it strange that people are seemingly compelled to undertake this seemingly suicidal task, whatever novelty they find at having climbed to the top of the world is lost on me, but evidently not on them. So kudos to you, Everest climbers, you have more guts than I will ever have, I wish you luck on your endeavor, even if I can not comprehend it.
Another thing that struck me as odd was the author's guilt at surviving. In the condition he was in there was no way he could have saved anybody who had died, yet he still feels guilty. Perhaps that's just my usual coldness speaking, but I don't see why he blames himself for the deaths of his comrades.
This story is tragic, but it is also a risk that every person who climbs Everest takes. It comes with the territory, if you climb Everest, there is a good chance something will go wrong and you will die, no matter what you do to reduce that chance. So I find the media's heavy involvement in the tragedy to be rather silly, they don't cover every successful expedition, but the one time something goes horribly wrong they swarm the mountain like ants on an anthill. That's the media for you, but it still seems silly.
Make that 57;-) When you revise the list, I'd like you to keep the ones that we've taken off at the end. After you've read some of the additions I want you to think about why I decided to make these drastic changes.
ReplyDeleteFirst, your negative attitude in these is starting to wear me down. I'm so glad we talked about this book before I read this blog. Can we try a couple of blogs in which you look beyond your first negative impulse feel free to wallow in yourself but please spare me from it.
Now with that we have THAT covered I shall move on to the book....
Dangerous tasks are dangerous tasks. Everest is the highest peek in the world. When you are trying to conquer the highest, the deepest, the coldest, the hottest spots the world has to offer they are by definition more dangerous than average. Firefighters have lots of gear and training and take precautions, and still some die. I would argue the gear, the Sherpas, the guides have made climbing Everest considerably less dangerous. Contemplate for a moment the crazy freaks who used to try it before all the luxuries of today.
You make it sound like it's certain death to attempt an Everest climb. Actually figures seem to hover about 1 death for every 10 summits. We're talking less than 10% die. I suspect the Sherpas aren't counted in that figure. I think those are decent odds. It's a grueling task, that will leave you drained on all levels but you will have joined an elite group of people. The percentage of all people who cn say they have summitted Everest is way less than 10%.
I would not agree that you are usual cold. It certainly wasn't the authors fault his companions died, but it is a common feeling. Having not been through that situation you are not equipped to say how you might handle something like that.
The media doesn't cover every successful expedition, but there are multiple shows/movie/books/stories some are following success stories and some are the tragedies. I think when it comes to Everest, people who aren't willing to take on the challenge are often enthralled to hear the good and bad. The good,they live vicariously through success stories, and the bad, they are grateful to not be so foolhearty as the poor fool who tried and failed. The question is who do you want to be.