So what's going on up on Everest?

I saw an ad on TV for a show where some guy is going to base jump off the peak of Everest in wing suit.

Discovery Channel's Everest Special Canceled After Deadly Avalanche






A stunt on Mount Everest that was set to air on the Discovery Channel in May was canceled Sunday after an avalanche killed at least 13 people, all Sherpas.

"In light of the overwhelming tragedy at Mt. Everest and respect for the families of the fallen, Discovery Channel will not be going forward with Everest Jump Live. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the whole Sherpa community," said network spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg.








Joby Ogwyn, wing-suit flier and BASE jumper, was planning for a wing suit flight off Everest's 29,000-foot summit on May 11, the Discovery website said. The channel was planning to air the feat live.

NBC News Peacock Productions had crews on the mountain preparing for the Discovery Channel program covering Ogwyn's jump. NBC News said in a statement Friday that their seven staffers on site were safe.

Ogwyn wrote in a statement Saturday that he lost his Sherpa team in the avalanche.

"These men were the salt of the earth. Far better men than me. My heart is broken," he said.

Some in the Sherpa community have suggested that the current Everest climbing season be put on hold because of the deaths.


DAVID MCNEW / Reuters file
Wingsuit jumper Joby Ogwyn wears a prototype wingsuit and carries a deployed parachute from an airplane after taking a practice jump as he prepares to attempt the first wingsuit jump off the summit of Mount Everest in May near Perris, Calif., on Feb. 26. Ogwyn holds the world record holder for the fastest Everest climb at 9.5 hours.

I thought they closed the hill this year or something... My brain summary... Avalanche, most experience killed, poo ass sherpas, pass closed need to find a new one. Wealthy bored 'mericans need to find a new way to blow their cash.

Isn't the fact that you could possibly die the entire lure to climbing Everest?

I was really looking forward to watching that Discovery Channel Everest thing. Too bad its been iced.

Hey, wtf, I can't post a link to a great article...?!?

The sherpas decided that the mountain had spoken, and they would not do anymore climbs in 2014.

The sherpas are also super pissed about how much they are exploited by the tour groups and government, they get paid next to nothing, despite the fact the average climber spends over $75k on the entire trip (training, airfare, etc are all included).

Search for Outside Magazine Online, "Everest Sherpas Issue Demands"

Isn't it true there is no technical climbing required for Everest? I'm too lazy to look it up.

Not to take anything away from those that perished recently. RIP

Brock Middlebrook wrote:Search for Outside Magazine Online, "Everest Sherpas Issue Demands"

that's a good article. i heard the sherpas only make about 6 grand a season. which is good money for there, but paltry in light of the money being spent.

Brock Middlebrook wrote:Hey, wtf, I can't post a link to a great article...?!?

Sorry, just a precaution to keep the trolls from pr0n spamming. It's just a week after you sign up, then you can post links/images/videos etc. all you like.

AMwood wrote:

that's a good article. i heard the sherpas only make about 6 grand a season. which is good money for there, but paltry in light of the money being spent.

And the fact that several of them are killed every year.

Mentalstate wrote:The sherpas decided that the mountain had spoken, and they would not do anymore climbs in 2014.

The sherpas are also super pissed about how much they are exploited by the tour groups and government, they get paid next to nothing, despite the fact the average climber spends over $75k on the entire trip (training, airfare, etc are all included).

Sherpa's can make 3-6K per hiking season. Horrible money compared to how much people pay to climb Everest and for how much work they do, but the Nepalese per capita is only $700 a year so they can make more than 5x's that in 3 months.

This is one of the reasons for the sherpa's strike.

SeeRockCity wrote:

Sorry, just a precaution to keep the trolls from pr0n spamming.  It's just a week after you sign up, then you can post links/images/videos etc. all you like.

Gotcha, thanks

AMwood wrote:

that's a good article. i heard the sherpas only make about 6 grand a season. which is good money for there, but paltry in light of the money being spent.

I could be wrong, but I think most of the $$ goes to the gov't for the climbing permits (which, I agree, is ridiculous)

Brock Middlebrook wrote:

I could be wrong, but I think most of the $$ goes to the gov't for the climbing permits (which, I agree, is ridiculous)

80% of the money spent to climb Everest goes to Nepalese gov't (or aobut 3.3M).

Spartan Punk wrote:
80% of the money spent to climb Everest goes to Nepalese gov't (or aobut 3.3M).

They need to unionize... mfers Could get the bored wealthy 'mericans to pay through the nose if they put their mind to it.