5 reasons why I’m not climbing Mt Everest

Salty Wave Story #5

Jul 01, 2023

By Gabrielle Ahern

Every year, hundreds of people travel to the Himalayas to tackle Mount Everest. For many it has been a lifelong dream to navigate up its formidable slopes. But lately there have been reports about the amount of rubbish left by visiting climbers and stories featuring those whose battle with the mountain ended before their dream was realized. Like a lot of people, I’ve wanted to go but life’s detours have taken me in other directions, and I’ve reached the decision that I don’t need to. Here are five reasons why I’m not climbing Mount Everest.

Poster image by nepalidevu / Pixabay

Reason 1

The dream to reach the peak of Mount Everest was ignited by reading Edmund Hillary’s biography when I was studying English at High school. I discovered how brave and resourceful people were as a consequence of living their lives through reading biographies. Hillary was a climber who was always challenging himself to conquer the next mountain. Mt Everest had never been conquered and he made it his goal to take the beast on. And what a cold unforgiving beast it is too. I enjoyed reading about his life and although there are a few mountain peaks to climb where I live that are in close proximity, I started to think of challenges I could overcome in place of a mountain. Bit by bit I reached my goals and my Mount Everest became a metaphor that I attached to anything I found difficult to face or overcome. Since reading that book, there have been many Mount Everests, but I can appreciate why people would want to make the pilgrimage, especially if you have the skills, the money and a group of friends to climb the mountain with. I’ve met people who have that dream and it’s exciting to talk about but I have different goals I want to reach, and climbing a few of the mountains closer to where I live would be as much of an adventure.

Reason 2

The rubbish people leave behind on the mountain is something beyond my comprehension. For one thing they have dreamt of being in that place all their lives so they can feel on top of the world. And another, is the effort they have gone to, the physical preparation, financial sacrifice and planning to make the journey practical and possible. So you’d think with all these people travelling there for one reason, there would be a few rules about cleaning up during the climb. Many national parks have this same expectation of visitors and I’ve wondered why Mount Everest has become a haven for rubbish. The ocean receives plastic debris vicariously from many sources across the globe, no one takes the blame, because the plastic islands float across international borders. Mount Everest though is frequented by visiting tourists who leave oxygen tanks, abandon their camping gear and any rubbish they produce during their climb. The rubbish is left there with the intention or assumption that someone else can take it with them. Perhaps the local authorities might establish a few rules with climbers or organise a clean up similar to the annual Clean Up Australia event. The mountain is revered by the local people and as it is such a mecca for tourists, I hope that someone might initiate a plan to remove the rubbish to support the tourism industry in Nepal and the mountains wildlife inhabitants.

Reason 3

Mount Everest is a beautiful place, but the climate is extremely dangerous making climbing conditions dynamic and difficult to predict or contend with. Even the most athletic, experienced climbers have succumbed to the inhospitable conditions. Because it is sometimes too dangerous for climbers to help other people in distress, their bodies are left on the mountain. It must be a haunting reminder of the danger Mount Everest represents to many climbers, who walk passed the corpses of those who shared their same dream, to keep focused, and walk bravely on up to the peak. How does anyone do that? It’s expensive and very risky to retrieve a dead body from Mount Everest. I can’t help but feel a bit upset for the families and friends who must feel very helpless in this type of situation. There is no closure and the thought their family member or friend came close to conquering Mount Everest must be little comfort in the face of a tragic consequence.

Reason 4

There are so many challenges to overcome in life and the recent Covid Virus event has highlighted how difficult life can be when you are confined to your home over a long period of time. I like everyone else wanted space, a bit of air, and to go out socialising. I think that’s why most people who dream of conquering Mt Everest embark on the quest, because they share the same dream and relish in conquering this beast of a mountain that has lurked like a shadow in their minds their whole life with other like minded people. But each dream is motivated from different life experiences and perspectives. That might be why little respect is shown to the mountain itself, because people grow to think it represents everything they have to overcome in life – to be a better more accomplished human being. I don’t think so. You don’t need to go overseas or climb any particular mountain, let alone Mt Everest, to prove yourself. It’s in your mind. That metaphorical mountain you built up over the years is the real mountain you have to climb. You don’t need to climb Mt Everest. It’s a geological formation that exists as a spectacular thing of nature, and I’m happy to resist its charms.

Reason 5

Mountains are by their very nature, exhilarating places to visit because they inspire the artistic whims of the many who are fascinated by their beauty and mystery. They attract brave souls who want to detach from reality and embrace danger to know they are alive. They lure those whose misfortune plagues them and creates a stress in their mind, body and soul that only climbing Mt Everest can resolve. I love mountains from a distance. I love learning why these places so still now, originated in their infancy, through violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mountains are truly spectacular places. Whatever your view of Mt Everest is or whether you want to climb it or not, I love that mountain, it’s always there with every challenge I aim to overcome. The metaphor I envision is a great challenge for me to conquer.

I hope you find a mountain to climb and reach the peak, not just once in your life, but many times. It’s exhilarating to reach the summit of a mountain like Everest, I’m sure, or to be the first person to achieve an elusive goal like a major discovery. It takes a lot of courage, strength, planning and support. People don’t achieve great things alone. Mount Everest might be popular but at the end of the day it is a lonely beautiful but cold beast looking for company – like a lot of impossible challenges. I for one am always there, facing the summit with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Being on top of the world is on my mind every day.

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