People Are Literally Dying To Climb Mount Everest

The most ambitious among us put it on their bucket list: climb the highest mountain in the world. While many people see climbing Mount Everest as a crowning achievement, experts say the glory may not be worth the health risk.

“You shouldn’t attempt Everest unless you’ve done a lot of other mountaineering and have really proven to yourself that you can do that kind of thing relatively safely,” Dr. Kenneth Kamler, author of Surviving the Extremes, told ABC News.

The death toll this season at Mount Everest has reached 10, according to The Guardian. Last week a team on the mountain to retrieve a climber who died on Sunday found an additional two climbers and two Nepalese guides dead in a tent. Their discovery, accompanied by increased interest in getting to the top of the mountain, have added to mounting concern about unprepared climbers taking on the task.

“The biggest problem on Everest is the toxic mix of inexperienced climbers and unqualified guides,” Alan Arnette, who climbed Everest in 2011, told Fox News. “That is the new reality on the mountain.”

People train their whole lives to climb Everest. Going from sea level to altitudes well exceeding 15,000 feet can take a fast, severe toll on the body without the proper preparation. Altitude sickness can cause dizziness, fatigue, loss of coordination, vomiting, and, in sever cases, inability to breathe. Frostbite, avalanches, and falls are also concerns. For an inexperienced climber, improper training can really mean the difference between life and death.

“Altitude is not natural to the body,” Kamler told ABC News. “The body can’t acclimatize to an altitude higher than about 18,000 feet. Beyond that your body just deteriorates.”

Experts hope that by making the public aware of the problem, they’ll curtail overwhelming interest in climbing the mountain and also raise awareness about how serious of a task Everest is to take on.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.