Press Release Summary: Well done Olympians, but there may be a much harder task than even winning gold, some say.
Press Release Body: Well done to all the Olympian athletes who received gold. Our heartiest congratulations to those who aspire to represent the lesser known tropical island nations, such as Vanuatu, Tonga or Samoa in the South Pacific. You all get there through a lot of hard work and self discipline.
Some say the attempt to climb the highest peaks of the world is one of the most extreme sports and more demanding than winning Olympian gold.
After the Olympians have climbed the platform received their gold medal, been congratulated by millions, it is a simple step down, to unwind and enjoy the post-games parties. However on the summit of Mt. Everest the job is just begun. No thunderous round of applause on the roof of the world. Only the deadly descent back to base camp. No quick luxurious helicopter ride off the mountain. No slippery slide, unless the climber wants to end up at home in a body bag.
In the Death Zone, anything above 22,950 feet, the body no longer acclimatizes. Body functions, like digesting food, have long closed down. Sleep is impossible. The longer the stay on the top of the mountain, the greater the danger of body deterioration, loss of consciousness and finally death. Every climber knows the possibility of a rescue mission at these heights is unthinkable.
The jealous goddess of the sky, as the locals call Mount Everest, has claimed around 210 lives. Over 120 corpses litter the slopes, many lying in clear sight of other climbers. They say the goddess zealously punishes any illicit sex performed on her icy slopes. Not always do the perpetrators die, but others around them.
The 76 year old Nepalese man, who climbed this year, says he will be back for more. The Nepalese people have been climbing their jealous god for a long time. Appa Sherpa has been up 11 times and Ang Rita Sherpa and Babi Chiri Sherpa have both climbed the mountain 10 times all without the assistance of oxygen.
Everest has an even more dangerous sister, K2, nicknamed "The Mountain that invites death." Recently K2 witnessed the worst climbing incident in the history of the mountains, since 13 lives were lost over a period of two weeks in 1986. A recent expedition cost 11 lives on K2's deceitful slopes.
Accusations of lack of preparation and training rumbling through the sacred halls of mountaineering. The same things as were said after 1986, as described in Jon Krakauer's compelling book, 'Into Thin Air'.
Who is to blame for the deaths on the mountain?
In spite of the huge amount of fees imposed by the Nepalese government, $US25,000 per climber, people continue to climb the mountains as long as they are there.
Every season, would-be climbers huddle for months at the base camp at 16,000 feet. Every day they wait for their chance to take on the icy killer slopes that tower over them. Be it Olympian gold or snow clad mountains, mankind seeks a challenge.
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2022
