Edmund Hillary Slams Everest Climbing Becoming Popular

According to The New Zealand Herald newspaper report, Edmund Hillary, the first man who climbed the Everest along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, stated that climbing the world's highest Mount has been increasingly commercialized during the past few years, which is why so many unprepared people found the courage to climb it and die.


According to website www.everestnews.com, there were 101 expeditions on the Everest in 2005, a record number, while 82 are preparing for the summit climb this year. Nine deaths have already been recorded in 2006.

"I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top. They don't give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress", he stated in an interview with the newspaper.

This is the case of British David Sharp, who died on the mountain last week, after allegedly reaching the summit then being confronted with a series of difficulties while he was descending. He was passed by New Zealand Mark Inglis's party, the man who became the first double amputee to reach the frightening peak.

Related to this event, Hillary stated that during the time he made the expedition, no one would have left someone else die on the way: "It simply would not have happened. If you have someone who is in great need and you are still strong and energetic then you have a duty really to give all you can to get the man down and getting to the summit becomes secondary."

In response, Inglis stated that around 40 people had passed by Sharp while they were climbing up, but his party was the only one which decided they should check if he was alright. Inglis added that he had radioed the expedition manager and asked him about the decision to help the British climber but the answer was: "Mate you can't do anything. He's been there X number of hours without oxygen, he's effectively dead".