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Here's an article about this with photos: https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/mount-everest-bodies-left-dead-frozen-at-the-top/ https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.

Here's an article about this with photos: https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/mount-everest-bodies-left-dead-frozen-at-the-top/ https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/mount-everest-bodies-lef... (Note: that link contains photos of frozen human corpses, so maybe don't click it if you're squeamish.) My understanding is that many of these bodies are clearly visible from the trail as you climb the mountain. Imagine seeing the well-preserved corpse of someone who previously attempted the dangerous feat you're now attempting... I don't want to find out what that feels like.

ricardobeat 2y ago
The irony of a website telling the story of commercialization of climbing the Everest, and the risks involved, while bombarding you with full page ads to buy a climbing package every couple minutes… I also wonder, with so much money going into these expeditions for many decades, how hard would it be to build some kind of safe house not too far from the summit, with oxygen / heating supplies delivered by drone?
- rtkwe 2y ago
  Very very hard. Purpose built high performance helicopters can barely make it to the Everest summit on ideal days. The air gets so thin they struggle with lift while hovering which to need to land.
  - BurningFrog 2y ago
    I'm guessing personal jet packs aren't a replacement yet?
    - gambiting 2y ago
      On the other hand DJI has flown their regular consumer Mavic 3 Pro(although I bet it has been modified in some way) all the way to the top, so I have no doubt that with enough of them you could construct almost anything. Not that it would be allowed or even desirable by anyone there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIyIMqwu0E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIyIMqwu0E
      - BurningFrog 2y ago
        Wow. That must have been a very windless day!
        rtkwe 2y ago
        The helicopter flight that landed on the summit briefly was helped by some strong updrafts according to the pilot. It also looks like it was a number of flights.
      - arrowsmith 2y ago
        Woah - that footage is incredible. And it made me dizzy.
  - gregors 2y ago
    "hard" is not a technical issue. They would never allow it to be built in the first place since it has no place being there.
    - rtkwe 2y ago
      It can and is both imo. It's technically hard to get supplies up that high and culturally people wouldn't want so obviously lessen the accomplishment of getting to the summit.
- scythe 2y ago
  I'd be concerned that if you make it too safe, people will find another hill to die on. The density of the air on Mount Everest is about 3/8 of that at sea level. So getting enough lift would be difficult. To the sibling commenter's point, I think a drone would be a lot easier than a piloted helicopter, since you can make the whole thing out of beryllium if you have to.
  - ricardobeat 2y ago
    That was my point, DJI already demonstrated a drone going all the way from base camp to the summit. You also have a stream of hundreds of people climbing it daily. If each one carries a few hundred grams payload to help with construction, or a sherpa takes an extra O2 cylinder every once in a while... I know nothing about climbing, but thought, given the volume of people and money, it doesn't look like a "greatest feats of engineering"-level project to save a few dozen lives.
IIAOPSW 2y ago
I met a traveler from a distant land...wait, I am a traveler from a distant land.
- selimthegrim 2y ago
  At least you’re not a fugitive from a chain gang.
ANewFormation 2y ago
At least one body known as "Green Boots" [1] is used as a common milestone. His identity is unknown for certain. The reason one does such things, though, is because they're difficult, so I'd imagine the bodies are motivating - focus or you'll be the next milestone. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Boots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Boots
- arrowsmith 2y ago
  *was. The body's now been moved to somewhere less conspicuous, according to that Wikipedia link.

ricardobeat 2y ago

The irony of a website telling the story of commercialization of climbing the Everest, and the risks involved, while bombarding you with full page ads to buy a climbing package every couple minutes… I also wonder, with so much money going into these expeditions for many decades, how hard would it be to build some kind of safe house not too far from the summit, with oxygen / heating supplies delivered by drone?

rtkwe 2y ago
Very very hard. Purpose built high performance helicopters can barely make it to the Everest summit on ideal days. The air gets so thin they struggle with lift while hovering which to need to land.
- BurningFrog 2y ago
  I'm guessing personal jet packs aren't a replacement yet?
  - gambiting 2y ago
    On the other hand DJI has flown their regular consumer Mavic 3 Pro(although I bet it has been modified in some way) all the way to the top, so I have no doubt that with enough of them you could construct almost anything. Not that it would be allowed or even desirable by anyone there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIyIMqwu0E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIyIMqwu0E
    - BurningFrog 2y ago
      Wow. That must have been a very windless day!
      - rtkwe 2y ago
        The helicopter flight that landed on the summit briefly was helped by some strong updrafts according to the pilot. It also looks like it was a number of flights.
    - arrowsmith 2y ago
      Woah - that footage is incredible. And it made me dizzy.
- gregors 2y ago
  "hard" is not a technical issue. They would never allow it to be built in the first place since it has no place being there.
  - rtkwe 2y ago
    It can and is both imo. It's technically hard to get supplies up that high and culturally people wouldn't want so obviously lessen the accomplishment of getting to the summit.
scythe 2y ago
I'd be concerned that if you make it too safe, people will find another hill to die on. The density of the air on Mount Everest is about 3/8 of that at sea level. So getting enough lift would be difficult. To the sibling commenter's point, I think a drone would be a lot easier than a piloted helicopter, since you can make the whole thing out of beryllium if you have to.
- ricardobeat 2y ago
  That was my point, DJI already demonstrated a drone going all the way from base camp to the summit. You also have a stream of hundreds of people climbing it daily. If each one carries a few hundred grams payload to help with construction, or a sherpa takes an extra O2 cylinder every once in a while... I know nothing about climbing, but thought, given the volume of people and money, it doesn't look like a "greatest feats of engineering"-level project to save a few dozen lives.

IIAOPSW 2y ago

I met a traveler from a distant land...wait, I am a traveler from a distant land.

selimthegrim 2y ago
At least you’re not a fugitive from a chain gang.

ANewFormation 2y ago

At least one body known as "Green Boots" [1] is used as a common milestone. His identity is unknown for certain. The reason one does such things, though, is because they're difficult, so I'd imagine the bodies are motivating - focus or you'll be the next milestone. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Boots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Boots

arrowsmith 2y ago
*was. The body's now been moved to somewhere less conspicuous, according to that Wikipedia link.