Mount Everest Deaths: 3 Climbers Perish While Scaling Mountain; 2 Still Missing

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Three climbers who were among scores who scaled Mount Everest over the weekend died on their descent and two more are missing, a Nepalese official said Monday.

The first clear weather conditions of the spring climbing season were Friday and Saturday, but a windstorm swept the higher altitudes of the mountain by Saturday afternoon, said Gyanendra Shrestha of Nepal's Mountaineering Department.

An estimated 150 climbers reached the summit on either day, most of them on Saturday.

"There was a traffic jam on the mountain on Saturday. Climbers were still heading to the summit as late as 2:30 p.m. which is quite dangerous," Shrestha told The Associated Press by telephone from Everest's base camp.

Climbers are advised to not attempt to reach the summit after 11 a.m. The area above the last camp at South Col is nicknamed the "death zone" because of the steep icy slope, treacherous conditions and low oxygen level.

"With the traffic jam, climbers had a longer wait for their chance to go up the trail and spent too much time at higher altitude. Many of them are believed to be carrying limited amount of oxygen not anticipating the extra time spent," Shrestha said.

The three climbers who died Saturday were believed to have suffered exhaustion and altitude sickness.

They were identified as 61-year-old German doctor Eberhard Schaaf, Nepal-born Canadian Shriya Shah, and South Korean mountaineer Song Won-bin. The missing climbers are a Chinese national and his Nepalese Sherpa guide.

Weather conditions are clear enough to permit climbing to Everest's 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak for only a short time in May.

On May 10, 1996, eight people died on what is believed to be the worst day on Everest. The main reason was said to be that climbers who started their ascents late in the day were caught in a snow storm that swept the mountain in the afternoon.

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Comments

[Soror4512]

02:05 PM on 05/22/2012

So sad these people lost their lives in this thrill seeking feat.

[Tracy Underhill]

10:23 AM on 05/22/2012

How sad that these highers lost their lives on Mt. Everest.

[LisaMarieC]

10:19 AM on 05/22/2012

My husband and I walked the road from Rongbuk to the north face base camp of Everest several years ago. It was hands-down the most difficult physical thing I have done in my life (around 17,500 feet - no oxygen, but we did take diamox, which kept us from getting altitude sickness). I remember looking at that mountain and not being able to imagine getting up enough energy to take another step, let alone attempting to summit it. I don't understand the desire to do that. It's insanity. It's beautiful up there, but hellishly exhausting.

[Bruno Diaz]

10:03 AM on 05/22/2012

When somebody dies doing an extreme sport invariably you see comments as posted here along the lines that it was all worth it because living a short fuller life is better etc. etc.

Sorry bu risking yor llife just because you can does not neccesarily mean living a fuller life. Lots of people take calculated risks all the time that are more meaningful for others.

In this particular case dying at 8000 mts while in traffic jam of people, after having paid over $100K to be dragged up there by several sherpas; all to accomplish your dream of being the 6000+ people to reach Everest doesn't even cut it IMHO as glamorous.

[SuzeC]

10:01 AM on 05/22/2012

'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer is one of the best books I've ever read, and one of the most tragic stories I've ever heard. After reading it I realized that Everest is amazing/beautiful/awe-inspiring, but also ridiculously dangerous in many ways. I know climbers will disagree, but I just can NOT understand why people are SO willing to spend SO much on such a miserable and dangerous pursuit. When the climbers and conditions are less than ideal, the mountain will win every time.

[elfin12u]

05:06 PM on 05/22/2012

I read Jon Krakauer's article from 1996 that the preceded the book at an online archive last night. I'll get the book now after reading it. It is amazing what people will put themselves through to stand at the roof of the world.

It appears that a bottleneck also contributed along with the weather in the 1996 event.

I know now that there is a very small window in which the weather is conducive (however marginally) to scaling the summit (May - June) at the most. I guess the price will go up if regulations are put into place that limit the number of ascents per day during that small window of time.

I think the expense even today is driving those who pass the turn around time for their schedule to keep going despite the increased danger. It's very sad when lives are lost.

[SuzeC]

11:57 PM on 05/22/2012

Good points! And I totally agree that the expense is probably often a factor in driving some to continue the pursuit even past the turn-around time. I hope you enjoy (although that's probably not the best word) the book; it will def stay with you long after you read it.

[Jason Wags]

09:36 AM on 05/22/2012

Another thing to think about: All of those people clambering to get up Mt Everest creating a sea of waste and no way of getting it off the mountain(estimated 50 tons in 2011) And yes corpses are up there also. Look it up sometime. Yes they can conquer the mountain but they are destroying it also. The human ego never ceases to amaze me.

[fleabell]

10:27 AM on 05/22/2012

so true

[jetle25]

10:27 AM on 05/22/2012

I completely agree with you. The amount of oxygen tanks littering the mountain top is disgusting to me. No one will remember us as a race that conquered nature but one that left a giant scar after being wiped off the planet.

[elfin12u]

05:12 PM on 05/22/2012

I read in another article that the 61 year old man from Aachen that perished was with the Asian Trekking Eco tour that is slowly clearing some of the debris.

I wonder if a new design and materials for the oxygen tanks can be devised to make them light enough to carry back down by the climbers themselves once they're empty.

[SonnyBono]

09:30 AM on 05/22/2012

Too late to demand that Nepal install an escalator above South Col to the crest?

[riench]

09:23 AM on 05/22/2012

The most selfish "sport" or hobby known to man.

[roadtonowhere]

09:23 AM on 05/22/2012

Mt Everest is dangerous? In other shocking news, water is wet.

[Adamantoise]

08:25 AM on 05/22/2012

It's a shame.

But still ... People need to respect their mortality a little more. Risking your life just so you can say you've climbed Everest?

No thanks.

[canpete]

08:11 AM on 05/22/2012

what a terrible waste of life, our time on earth is short enough, why complicate things?

[Adam Dray]

06:22 AM on 05/22/2012

....a traffic jam....apparently climbing everest isn't so 'rare' anymore...just make sure you go before lunch!

[autumnred]

01:57 PM on 05/22/2012

"Before 11" is because it takes all day to get back down. It's not safe to turn around after that time because you won't make it back to camp.

[Maconman380]

05:46 AM on 05/22/2012

Traffic Jams on Mt. Everest?

[fisher2737]

07:06 AM on 05/22/2012

"Traffic of climbers" yes

[Maconman380]

07:23 AM on 05/22/2012

Your missing my sarcasim. People are dying on Mt. Eversest because too many people are climbing at the same time. If the recomendation is to not climb after 11am then you should only allow a certian number of climber on the Mt. at any one time.

[BachmannPalinOverdrive]

05:43 AM on 05/22/2012

Everyone who attempts it is aware of the risks.

[hueylover]

07:27 PM on 05/22/2012

Exactly. Why do people get so upset when others consciously choose to enjoy extreme sports/ mountaineering?

[Payo Pow]

05:22 AM on 05/22/2012

Single and nothing to loose! sure I'll climb, if I was.