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>If you have a medical emergency while in places like this, you may be in serious trouble. Even in places like Antarctica, and even at the top of Mount Everest,

>If you have a medical emergency while in places like this, you may be in serious trouble. Even in places like Antarctica, and even at the top of Mount Everest, we have modern medical facilities within range and helicopters that can come grab you, weather permitting. A helicopter has landed on the summit of Everest ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle ) but that was a record attempt right on the edge of what is possible. I don't think they would have had enough margin to rescue anyone. Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes.

EMM_386 5y ago
> Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes. Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. On Pitcairn, you simply aren't leaving in any reasonable timeframe. If you survive a heart attack but it only gives you 2 weeks to live without surgery, and the next ship is due in 3 months and the closest freighter is 3 weeks away, you're going to die. It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain.
- hermitcrab 5y ago
  >Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. And this did indeed happen. One of our group had serious altitude issues. He had to be repressurised in a Gamow bag ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag ) until he had recovered enough to get him down to where a helicopter could evacuate him. One of the Sherpas ran a in a few hours a distance that it took us days to walk, so that he could telephone for the helicopter. Lucky for him it happened before the summit attempt. One of our group also had an aneurysm on the way down (she survived). High places are dangerous! >It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain. Probably much worse than Mera Peak. But if you have a heart attack on the summit of Everest, you're almost certainly going to die.

EMM_386 5y ago

> Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes. Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. On Pitcairn, you simply aren't leaving in any reasonable timeframe. If you survive a heart attack but it only gives you 2 weeks to live without surgery, and the next ship is due in 3 months and the closest freighter is 3 weeks away, you're going to die. It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain.

hermitcrab 5y ago
>Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. And this did indeed happen. One of our group had serious altitude issues. He had to be repressurised in a Gamow bag ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag ) until he had recovered enough to get him down to where a helicopter could evacuate him. One of the Sherpas ran a in a few hours a distance that it took us days to walk, so that he could telephone for the helicopter. Lucky for him it happened before the summit attempt. One of our group also had an aneurysm on the way down (she survived). High places are dangerous! >It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain. Probably much worse than Mera Peak. But if you have a heart attack on the summit of Everest, you're almost certainly going to die.