Everest
Tragedy Leaves Climbers With a
Painful Choice
The fallout from a devastating avalanche on Mount
Everest that
ended the lives of 16 Nepalese guides on April 18 has caused expedition teams to cancel their summit attempt, ending or suspending the dreams of many who had hoped to reach the world's highest point.
An emotional hangover, safety concerns and a business climate that is suddenly unstable have all weighed heavily on the minds of expedition teams that have to balance the inherent risks of mountain climbing
With the ambitions of clients who have
paid sometimes upwards of $75,000 for a shot at Mount Everest's peak.
Many Nepalese guides, k**wn as sherpas, have
decided to walk away from the mountain this season to ho**r colleagues who lost their lives, and many have demanded higher compensation for the danger they face in preparing routes for mostly Western climbers. Without sherpas to set up routes and carry equipment, climbing
Everest becomes much more difficult than it already is. Some expedition leaders are also unsure the route is safe; going ahead
With an expedition would mean leading clients through the area where the avalanche happened.
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