Ethics and Mount Everest

In recent years, the prospect of climbing Mount Everest has transformed from a remote possibility to an achievable feat—so long as someone has the funds to do so. Over the past few decades, Everest has become increasingly commercialized as permits are awarded to experienced and inexperienced climbers alike, and as guided expeditions grow in popularity. This trend of commercialization, while making Everest slightly more accessible to many, has spawned numerous problems. 

The process involved with climbing Mt. Everest varies by person and expedition, but generally includes gathering of necessary cold-weather and mountaineering gear, obtaining a climbing permit (which cost at least $11,000, though they generally include additional fees) (alarnette.com), and travelling to the mountain itself. Additionally, many climbers join guided hiking companies that oversee expeditions in an effort to increase chances of success. All in, a summit attempt on Everest may cost anywhere from $30,000 at lowest estimates to as much as $160,000 on the higher end (alarnette.com). 

Though Everest is not regarded by mountaineers to be the most technically challenging of mountains, summit attempts are nonetheless full of dangers. The environment itself is less than welcoming; in addition to extreme temperatures and volatile weather, ice falls and avalanches can occur with little to no warning. The elevation of the mountain causes problems for hikers as well, as most people, unless they have lived in such high elevations, are generally not equipped to function at such high altitudes.

As a result, hikers must attempt to acclimatize, or adjust to the high elevation of the mountain by traveling between the base camps and a series of camps at higher elevations. This process allows hikers to adjust incrementally to the growing strain of the high elevation and become familiar with their route and climbing conditions. Ultimately, if conditions are acceptable and the hikers are physically able, they will make a summit attempt, aiming for the highest peak in the world. 

The summit attempts are dangerous in and of themselves. In addition to the ongoing concerns of avalanches, blizzards, and ice falls, the lack of oxygen contributes to cognitive impairment as well as physical exhaustion, and the cold presents a relatively constant risk of hypothermia. The high elevation itself can result in anything from acute mountain sickness (AMS), the least severe form of altitude sickness, to the often-fatal high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE).  All of these factors make the climb exceedingly dangerous, though more than 500 people attempt to do so each year (UW.edu). 

The abundance of obstacles would be dangerous to hikers of all experience levels, but they become particularly treacherous as the numbers of inexperienced hikers on the mountain increases. As Everest has been commercialized, and the ability of someone to climb becomes more a question of the funds at their disposal, the number of inexperienced hikers has grown significantly. This has resulted in a proportional rise in the “every man for himself” mentality, despite the fact that Everest is an environment that demands cooperation between hikers, be they in the same expeditions or not. Everything that one hiker does has the potential to impact everyone else on the mountain, and in an environment rife with danger, even small mistakes are often fatal. 

The commercialization of Everest has also resulted in overcrowding in recent years. Having too many people attempting to use the same trails, guide ropes, and resources such as oxygen tanks can result in traffic jams, create unnecessary tension between hikers and hiking groups, and delay or prevent help from reaching those in need. As these tensions grow, and any semblance of group bonds dissolve, the risks to each hiker, including their guides, grows exponentially. 

The accessibility of Mt. Everest has, since its first successful recorded ascent, depended on the aid of Sherpas. The Sherpa people, an ethnic group from Nepal and Tibet, have lived in the region for thousands of years (Sherpa, Britannica). Sherpas are often hired to guide individuals and groups up Mt. Everest, and, in doing so, often bear disproportionate burdens. They are often tasked with establishing the season’s path up the mountain, a dangerous process that involves identifying concerning and unstable areas. Additionally, during hikes, Sherpas bear the heaviest physical loads, carrying supplies for hiking groups so the clients don’t have to. 

As the commercialization of Everest has progressed, climbers have increasingly viewed the work of Sherpas as a commodity, heightening the risks they face as they are expected to make more and more unrealistic summit attempts. Though the Sherpas are incredibly skilled and dedicated, and many have reached the summit multiple times, they can only do so much for an inexperienced hiker. Additionally, Sherpas are paid relatively well for their expertise, but it is hard to gauge the fairness of any compensation when someone’s life is continually put at risk by their job. 

Additionally, the commercialization and consequent overcrowding of Everest have exacerbated the environmental consequences to the mountain. Oxygen tanks, used by hikers to cope with the lack of oxygen in the air, litter the mountain. Though efforts have been made to remove them, doing so adds additional burdens to an already taxing climb, and new tanks appear each season. Additionally, other litter and human waste abound in the remote Base Camps, where waste removal is difficult. Sadly, corpses also cover the mountain, as it is nearly impossible to remove the bodies of those who perish at high elevations. They have become morbid landmarks for other hikers and will remain on the mountain for the foreseeable future. 

Given all of the dangers that accompany a climb to Mt. Everest, the question remains, is it worth it? Some, clearly, would argue yes. Though the benefits seem constrained to a sense of accomplishment, limited acclaim, and, for lack of a better term, bragging rights, thousands of people have attempted this climb, with varied levels of success. Though I must admit it would be incredible to stand at the roof of the world, I cannot justify the dangers involved; knowing that others may perish as a result of one’s actions, for something they ultimately do not need to do, is something I simply cannot reconcile.

References:

Abney, Clay. “The Incredible Cost of Climbing Mount Everest.” The Manual, The Manual, 7 Nov. 2019, www.themanual.com/outdoors/climbing-mount-everest-cost/. 

“Altitude Sickness.” Harvard Health Publishing , Harvard Medical School , Dec. 2018, www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/altitude-sickness-a-to-z. 

Arnette, Alan. “How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Everest? - 2021 Edition.” The Blog, Alarnette.com , 20 Feb. 2021, www.alanarnette.com/blog/2021/02/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-climb-mount-everest-2021-edition/#5. 

Bashyal, Pradeep. “Everest through the Eyes of a Sherpa: 'Climbers Need to Wake up'.” BBC News, BBC, 7 June 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48464030.

Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air. Villard Bks., 1997. 

Ma, Michelle. “Mount Everest Summit Success Rates Double, Death Rate Stays the Same over Last 30 Years.” UW News, University of Washington , www.washington.edu/news/2020/08/26/mount-everest-summit-success-rates-double-death-rate-stays-the-same-over-last-30-years/.

Sharma, Bhadra, and Kai Schultz. “New Everest Rules Could Significantly Limit Who Gets to Climb.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/world/asia/everest-climbing-rules.html. 

“Sherpa.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Sherpa-people.