Bottleneck at 8,000 Meters

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Late May is Everest time. And this past weekend in late May, a human traffic jam at the top of the world occurred on Mount Everest at 29,029 feet. Isn't there anyplace on earth anymore where one can get away?

150 intrepid and some crazy mountaineers waited their turn to summit Mount Everest on Saturday and Sunday past. Hanging out with buddies in icy terrain, high winds, below freezing temperatures, oxygen-deprived air above the 8,000meter "death zone" on a $50,000 torture trip is not my idea of a good time. And it is not only the money that costs you but the ascent or, more importantly, the descent may cost you your life. 6 unfortunates lost their lives this season of the 240 successful round-trippers. Families around the world are grieving now for their personal loss of one of their own not to war, or to disease or to violence but a self-inflicted loss of desiring to climb the tallest mountain in the world. Seems so selfish and such a terrible waste of time, talent and treasure to me.

Since 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit and return from Mount Everest, 4000 have lived to talk about their successes. Unfortunately, another 200 plus have died on that massive mountain forever frozen in time and place. For those who summit, they have 1 in 10 chance in making it back to base camp alive albeit without a few toes, fingers and nose. Even if you survive, Everest exacts its pound of flesh from you. As a wise Tibetan monk once said of those wanting to conquer Everest, "I feel great compassion for them to suffer so much for such meaningless work."

So as the climbing season closes on Everest for 2012, the climbing applications are flowing into Nepal and Tibet permit departments for 2013 on Everest. Seemingly, the traffic jams will resume again next year at the top of the world.

One thing is for certain, I will not be in that line at the top of the world in 2013 or anytime soon. You see, I prefer the color green to white. And the temps in the 70s. I'll stick with sea level. It's so boringly normal down here. And that's OK.

Cheers.