I have read several books on extreme mountain climbing, maybe one day I will climb one myself, although I have done a lot of hiking I haven’t really felt that drive to do something big and crazy. Although since I am calling it crazy, I am probably not one of the type to actually risk my life to summit. I do enjoy taking a look into the lives of those that do however. Dark Summit is the tale of the 2006 season up on Everest which was fairly treatcherous with 10 people passing away on the mountain, which is more than double most of the surrounding years. There was also a lot of flak because many people were left for dead on the mountain while others simply passed them by for their own summit.

 

It is not quite as simple as all of that of course. The mountaineering companies have an obligation to their own clients first, and high altitude rescues are almost impossible in most cases, and attempting to rescue another could mean your own death.

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