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[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
I had a subscription to Outside magazine in 1996. They'd sent Jon Krakauer onto Everest to write a story about how conquering Everest was becoming simply a matter of money, and that safety and experience wasn't what got you to the top of the mountain anymore. Most of the people who died on the mountain that season had paid upwards of $50,000 for the pleasure, and there was a bit more pressure on the guides to get them to the top than to think "maybe this isn't such a good idea" and turn back even if they were, as you said, only 300 feet from the top. The editor of the magazine wondered in an editorial later if his sending Krakauer added pressure to the guides to get as many clients as possible to the top so they'd get a positive mention in the article.

I remember reading Krakauer's article when he got back, before the book came out, and thinking that it was amazing that anyone survived that season. I think 11 people died that year, including 8 on the day that he was writing about.

I don't have a subscription anymore to Outside, but when I was searching for the article, I saw that they had an anniversary issue earlier this year.

I have an extreme aversion to sustained cold. So long as I know that there's a hot tub and a roaring fireplace waiting for me at the end of each day, I can handle ski trips, but that's about it. I can't imagine climbing any of the major mountains, except possibly, Mt. Kiliminjaro.

I'd like to try Kiliminjaro and Fuji. And I would like to do the tallest peaks in New England. In summer of course.