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Comment by manfredo | Hacker News Reader

This picture from the article basically sums it up: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/05/27/world/26everest2-...

I'm not sure what the appeal of Everest really is anymore now that it's been so developed. I've known people with minimal (as in, hiked up Mount Rainier and some other mountains that are totally achievable for normal people of okay fitness) climbing experience that climbed Everest. I wonder what it'd be if they mandated that people had to climb at least one other or two other 8 thousanders before climbing Everest. It'd probably cut down on the total traffic, while simultaneously generating even more revenue for Nepal as would-be Everest climbers now need to do one or two extra climbs.

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Not everyone wants to climb Everest just because it's challenging or impressive. Many people do it for the same reason they go to the observatory deck of the world trade center - they just enjoy the physical and metaphorical experience of standing at the highest point in the city/world.

If overcrowding is really a problem, the Nepali government can fix it very easily by raising the permit prices and using the money to provide better social services for its disadvantaged citizens. And of course, when that happens, the same people who complain about not seeing the appeal in climbing Everest, will instead complain about how Everest should be made accessible to everyone.

Please give the author of that photo credit. As mentioned below - it's been rampantly used without citation.

https://twitter.com/nimsdai/status/1132632755605573632

Dude risked his life in unbelievable freezing temps to take the photo and no one will even give him credit.

Its been done before:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Mi...

Is there any way to avoid the queue? I’ve always wanted to summit Everest. But my hatred of lines is stronger.

Climb during the winter. Of course, this is significantly more challenging. Many of the first winter ascents of 8000+ meter peaks weren't until the 80s, 90s, or even 2000s for some peaks.

There are other routes on Everest, they are just considerably harder and you won't be able to be dragged up them by a guide.

Of course if you need to be dragged up by a guide you shouldn't be there to begin with.

Unlikely. As per the article due to weather conditions there may only be a few windows of opportunities to make the summit which results in the queues.

That might just ruin the other mountains as people punch their tix.

Not all 8 thousanders are in Nepal though.

Many of 8 thousanders are present in multiple countries as the straddle the border (Everest included). 8 of the 14 are in Nepal, at least partially.

You’re right there is 14 of them. My bad.

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