camhead
Jan 18, 2009, 3:47 PM
Views: 9689
Registered: Sep 10, 2001
Posts: 20939
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well, I'll just poke the hornet's nest a little here.
I do agree that non-climbers tend to obsess over "highest" summits being the goal of all climbing; how many times do we here someone at the climbing gym going "I got to the top! I got to the top!" And Everest in particular has obviously gotten so commercialized and guide-sieged that it is justifiably getting a lot of complaints from "real" climbers.
That said, to summit Everest, even with a guide, you have to be in excellent physical shape. It is very inaccurate to simply say that anyone with enough money can do it. It is true, anyone with enough money can take time off and train intensely for it over a year or so, and succeed, but you know what? Most who train intensely for a year will probably be able to climb 5.12 sport as well!
I am not an alpinist at all. But, given what I've seen with the average recreational cragger on an approach to an Indian Creek crag, I would be willing to bet that a lot of you here slagging on Everest LACK the endurance to make it up, guide or not!*
There, I said it. Suckers.
* posters to this thread who have competed in Ironman Triathlons are exempt from my tauntings.
(This post was edited by camhead on Jan 18, 2009, 3:51 PM)
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