This month marks the 50th anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s summit of Mt. Everest. Estimates say that this anniversary climbing season has 42 expeditions on the mountain meaning there are some 300 climbers and 300 sherpas on the mountain as I write this. And from my office space here in Ann Arbor, MI I am not knocking nor sharing an opinion on the logjam on the tallest mountain on earth, I am merely noting the amount of traffic on a mountain that was a desolate and exotic spot a mere half-century ago.
My fascination with Everest began in 1977 when I read Chris Bonnington’s Everest The Hard Way. Ever since then I’ve read over 15 books about the mountain. And despite the sad fact that the mountain is overcrowded and polluted with climber waste, I still can’t help but go online every April/May to follow the latest spring summit attempts.
Follow this springs attempts at:
Moutain Zone’s Everest Site
Everestnews.com
Jagged Globe Mountaineering