I’ve watched several shows on mountain climbing over the past few weeks and out of curiosity, searched for “how much does it cost to climb Mt Everest?” The result shocked me – the average trip costs $65,000 and takes two to three months. Yes you can do it for less, but in the world of high stakes mountain climbing into “the death zone,” do you really want the cheapest guide service?
Another statistic shocked me as well: 80 percent of all accidents that occur when climbing Mt Everest happen on the way down.
That means that despite overcoming incredible odds, numbing cold, a lack of oxygen, possible snow blindness, and incredible fatigue, not to mention the risk of falling from a 1,000 ft cliff of solid ice, almost all accidents and deaths occur AFTER a climber reaches the summit. They happen after the goal has been reached, after the triumph, after the cheers and slaps on the back, after the celebratory satellite phone call, after the once-in-a-lifetime photo op. After spending months in preparation and tens of thousands of dollars.
