NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anyone else watched this show from The Discovery Channel ("http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/everestbeyond.html)?

I admit I had absolutely zero interest in mountain climbing and had no idea how difficult and deadly it really is, especially while trying to climb 29,000 feet. This show definitely got my attention.

If you watched, what did you think?

29,000 feet? Why would any idiot go up there?

29,000 feet? Why would any idiot go up there?

He wanted to touch the moon.

29,000 feet? Why would any idiot go up there?

Without an airplane...to prove what big manly men they are to themselves, supposedly. It was still interesting to watch whatall goes on during an expedition like that, though.

these people are idiots. It's like...a TOURIST industry. People do it to be tough. For god's sake. If you need to waste your life, your money and in general do something tremendous quit your job, buy meidcal supplies and move to Rawanda and help people. You'll prolly ide there too but they can at least bury your body and use the supplies.

Has anyone else watched this show from The Discovery Channel ("http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/everestbeyond.html)?

I admit I had absolutely zero interest in mountain climbing and had no idea how difficult and deadly it really is, especially while trying to climb 29,000 feet. This show definitely got my attention.

If you watched, what did you think?

don't know if I've seen that one or not........deadly place Everest, many bodies are still scattered on the mountain including the 1st man to scale it........

everest trivia.... maybe the world's greatest ever athlete...Göran Kropp of Sweden becomes first person to ride his bicycle all the way from his home in Sweden to the mountain, scale it alone without the use of oxygen tanks, and bicycle all the way back. Carried his own equipment up too. He died in Oregon I believe recently rock climbing.

don't know if I've seen that one or not........deadly place Everest, many bodies are still scattered on the mountain including the 1st man to scale it........

everest trivia.... maybe the world's greatest ever athlete...Göran Kropp of Sweden becomes first person to ride his bicycle all the way from his home in Sweden to the mountain, scale it alone without the use of oxygen tanks, and bicycle all the way back. Carried his own equipment up too. He died in Oregon I believe recently rock climbing.

Now that's hardcore.

Hopefully the first and last person to do all that!

Now that's hardcore.

Hopefully the first and last person to do all that! he's got my respect..... the Everest "tourists" have all their equipment hauled up, camps setup, the entire route prepared with ladders and ropes by Sherpas.....compared to the Swede a kiddie excursion........I think the Swede also made two ascents, he had to turn back on the first attempt after coming within a hundred meters of the summit.......

why the Hell hasn't someone made a movie about this guy!!!! his story is unbelievable...

he's got my respect..... the Everest "tourists" have all their equipment hauled up, camps setup, the entire route prepared with ladders and ropes by Sherpas.....compared to the Swede a kiddie excursion........I think the Swede also made two ascents, he had to turn back on the first attempt after coming within a hundred meters of the summit.......

why the Hell hasn't someone made a movie about this guy!!!! his story is unbelievable...

I vote Viggo Mortensen for lead. There has to be a busty Swedish chick somewhere in there as well.

Has anyone else watched this show from The Discovery Channel ("http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/everestbeyond.html)?

I admit I had absolutely zero interest in mountain climbing and had no idea how difficult and deadly it really is, especially while trying to climb 29,000 feet. This show definitely got my attention.

If you watched, what did you think?

I loved the show, when is the final episode, do you know?

don't know if I've seen that one or not........deadly place Everest, many bodies are still scattered on the mountain including the 1st man to scale it........

everest trivia.... maybe the world's greatest ever athlete...Göran Kropp of Sweden becomes first person to ride his bicycle all the way from his home in Sweden to the mountain, scale it alone without the use of oxygen tanks, and bicycle all the way back. Carried his own equipment up too. He died in Oregon I believe recently rock climbing.

Now he was an absolute legend.

That website made my browser cry. :( But from what I can gather, its about some guided clients and their journey up Everest? I've always been ambivalent about guided groups, the impression I get is that they are sometimes too focused on the summit, and less on the journey itself. If I ever get into alpine or Himalayan mountaineering, it will be because I have the skills and experience to do it myself, without relying on somebody else. That's a large part of the mountaineering ethos, and something that's missed, I feel.

For a climber's (and Sherpa's) view of the guided groups, I recommend Touching my Fathers Soul, by Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Its his autobiography and an account of the 1996 disaster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everest#1996_disaster).

I loved the show, when is the final episode, do you know?

It aired last night, but as it's the Discovery Channel, I'm sure it will be repeated sometime this week. I think there's also a marathon on one of the subsidiary Discovery networks. Can't remember which one off the top of my head.

29,000 feet? Why would any idiot go up there?

because it's there

Now he was an absolute legend.

That website made my browser cry. :( But from what I can gather, its about some guided clients and their journey up Everest? I've always been ambivalent about guided groups, the impression I get is that they are sometimes too focused on the summit, and less on the journey itself. If I ever get into alpine or Himalayan mountaineering, it will be because I have the skills and experience to do it myself, without relying on somebody else. That's a large part of the mountaineering ethos, and something that's missed, I feel.

For a climber's (and Sherpa's) view of the guided groups, I recommend Touching my Fathers Soul, by Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Its his autobiography and an account of the 1996 disaster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everest#1996_disaster).

I see. However, if you do get into trouble, it seems better to be in a group. But that's just the wuss in me talking. ;)

That IMAX movie from the article sounds fantastic! Too bad we don't have one here. :(

It aired last night, but as it's the Discovery Channel, I'm sure it will be repeated sometime this week. I think there's also a marathon on one of the subsidiary Discovery networks. Can't remember which one off the top of my head.

NNOOOOOOO here is to you Discovery Channel :upyours:

I have plenty of time on my hands, as there is a blizzard at my house right now, all I have to do today is sit on my ass, and shovel snow

NNOOOOOOO here is to you Discovery Channel :upyours:

I have plenty of time on my hands, as there is a blizzard at my house right now, all I have to do today is sit on my ass, and shovel snow

blizzard! you have snow? where do you live? South Pole....I was beginning to think snow was extinct due to Global warming

I vote Viggo Mortensen for lead. There has to be a busty Swedish chick somewhere in there as well.

of course there is blonde here's a link, I hope it works...
http://www.mandator.com/NR/rdonlyres/0461E947-C7BD-4A63-AC93-6920729804A3/255/Renatahalvfigur.jpg

blizzard! you have snow? where do you live? South Pole....I was beginning to think snow was extinct due to Global warming

I live in Colorado, Littleton (and no, I do not attend Columbine High)

I see. However, if you do get into trouble, it seems better to be in a group. But that's just the wuss in me talking. ;)

That IMAX movie from the article sounds fantastic! Too bad we don't have one here. :(

Oh I don't mean soloing everything! Just doing things properly. There is something about paying an experienced mountaineer to take you up the biggest mountains in the world just for the sake of it; it just disagrees with me. This may be something of a polemic, but hey, its a subject close to my heart.

The Himalayas are the biggest mountains in the world, and some of the most beautiful. They are also a home to people - the Sherpas and Tibetans. As such, they deserve respect, as much as the land around your home. Perhaps more so, you don't have to live there. I do not mean to generalise, but I believe there is a significant proportion of guided clients who treat the mountains as targets to be ticked off, just for the sake of doing it. I know that many have a genuine love for the mountains, but treating the most beautiful landscape in the world as a goal leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There are many guides who can tell stories of clients feeling that as they have paid for the trip, they are guaranteed to reach the top - indeed, have a right to. Someone who has learned the mountains knows that we are intruders in a world that is not ours, one that is deserving of our deepest respect. I doubt that made any sense, but I'm glad I said it.

Oh I don't mean soloing everything! Just doing things properly. There is something about paying an experienced mountaineer to take you up the biggest mountains in the world just for the sake of it; it just disagrees with me. This may be something of a polemic, but hey, its a subject close to my heart.

The Himalayas are the biggest mountains in the world, and some of the most beautiful. They are also a home to people - the Sherpas and Tibetans. As such, they deserve respect, as much as the land around your home. Perhaps more so, you don't have to live there. I do not mean to generalise, but I believe there is a significant proportion of guided clients who treat the mountains as targets to be ticked off, just for the sake of doing it. I know that many have a genuine love for the mountains, but treating the most beautiful landscape in the world as a goal leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There are many guides who can tell stories of clients feeling that as they have paid for the trip, they are guaranteed to reach the top - indeed, have a right to. Someone who has learned the mountains knows that we are intruders in a world that is not ours, one that is deserving of our deepest respect. I doubt that made any sense, but I'm glad I said it.

No, I see your point, and it is a very good one. There are members of this team who certainly do feel like Everest is just something to conquer (Time the Biker comes to mind), but there are others who do have respect and awe of the mountain. The team leader, Russel, seems very much the latter.