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That’s probably it. Also, there are climbers who do it for the love of climbing but for most of these people it’s something to brag about. “ Not only am I bett

That’s probably it. Also, there are climbers who do it for the love of climbing but for most of these people it’s something to brag about. “ Not only am I better because I am rich but I am also physically better and I do harder things than you.”

briandear 7y ago
It seems like many of the debates on HN seem to quickly devolve into classism. I am pretty sure not many people have ever met an Everest climber, let alone got to know any in order to make these sweeping generalizations.
- maxxxxx 7y ago
  I have talked to a guy who had climbed Mount Everest that way. He had the goal of climbing all the highest peaks on all continents and Everest was one of them. He also came from a wealthy family. He had the time and money to put in the time preparing and then paying >50k for the Everest climb. Who can afford this money and taking off months for an expedition? From what I have read Everest climbers are either basically very poor people who put all they have into climbing or they are rich enough to take time off and pay for that hobby. For a regular guy with a regular job it’s very difficult to do.
  - Mediterraneo10 7y ago
    A lot of 8000-meter-plus climbers are ordinary middle-class people. The huge expenses of getting to the Himalayas, paying for permits and gear are covered by sponsorships. In some small European countries, no one from there has yet climbed Everest, Nanga Parbat etc. without supplementary oxygen. That means any expedition will get big coverage in national media, and consequently it is easy to obtain sponsorship from local subsidiaries of multinationals (e.g. Pepsi, Johnny Walker, etc.)
    - maxxxxx 7y ago
      "In some small European countries, no one from there has yet climbed Everest, Nanga Parbat etc. without supplementary oxygen." Isn't that a totally different level? I thought most paid climbers use oxygen.

briandear 7y ago

It seems like many of the debates on HN seem to quickly devolve into classism. I am pretty sure not many people have ever met an Everest climber, let alone got to know any in order to make these sweeping generalizations.

maxxxxx 7y ago
I have talked to a guy who had climbed Mount Everest that way. He had the goal of climbing all the highest peaks on all continents and Everest was one of them. He also came from a wealthy family. He had the time and money to put in the time preparing and then paying >50k for the Everest climb. Who can afford this money and taking off months for an expedition? From what I have read Everest climbers are either basically very poor people who put all they have into climbing or they are rich enough to take time off and pay for that hobby. For a regular guy with a regular job it’s very difficult to do.
- Mediterraneo10 7y ago
  A lot of 8000-meter-plus climbers are ordinary middle-class people. The huge expenses of getting to the Himalayas, paying for permits and gear are covered by sponsorships. In some small European countries, no one from there has yet climbed Everest, Nanga Parbat etc. without supplementary oxygen. That means any expedition will get big coverage in national media, and consequently it is easy to obtain sponsorship from local subsidiaries of multinationals (e.g. Pepsi, Johnny Walker, etc.)
  - maxxxxx 7y ago
    "In some small European countries, no one from there has yet climbed Everest, Nanga Parbat etc. without supplementary oxygen." Isn't that a totally different level? I thought most paid climbers use oxygen.