Introduction
♪♪ Admit it, you just love extreme sports. And we've got a huge challenge for you. This is Mount Everest, one of the most extreme places on Earth. If you set out to conquer the highest mountain in the world, you'll face deadly physical and mental challenges. Scaling Mount Everest is no easy feat. At least 295 people have died, and we don't want you to be next. Here's How to Survive Mount Everest. ♪♪
Mount Everest – The Ultimate Challenge
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world at 8,850 meters. It lies between Nepal and China. This gigantic mountain arose from the movements of tectonic plates millions of years ago.
Did you know that it's still growing? Above 8 km, close to the summit, lies the death zone. It's so high that you can only breathe in about one-third of the oxygen you'd get at sea level. This could cause fluid to build up in your lungs and brain, and blood clots in your lung arteries. Here, every decision is critical.
- How can you prepare for this monumental undertaking?
- Is there any chance of being rescued from the death zone?
- And what happens if you get stuck in the death zone?
Step 1 – Know Yourself
I don't mean your height, age, and weight. I mean, what would you do in a life-threatening situation? Can you stay calm, think clearly, and follow directions?
When you're hanging onto the side of a mountain in a storm, staying calm can help you and your teammates survive. There's no "I" in the team, and it couldn't be any more apparent than on Everest. Nobody climbs to the summit alone, so it's always a team effort, and everyone relies on each other.
When you and your team are on the mountainside, you could all be attached to the same rope. What would happen if someone hasn't attached the rope securely enough? So remember, teamwork is essential for making the summit.
Step 2 – Prepare
High on Mount Everest, with dangerously low oxygen levels and freezing temperatures, will you be strong enough to keep climbing?
- Knowledge and training will be crucial to surviving.
- Know how much oxygen and what flow rates you'll need to climb safely.
Be prepared for all the challenges you could face:
- One major risk is hypothermia, which happens when your body loses heat faster than it can make heat.
- The ultraviolet rays reflected from snow and ice can cause snow blindness, making climbing even more dangerous.
Learn how to handle these challenges for your health and your team's, and make sure you've got the right climbing equipment and supplies. You have to carry everything you'll need.
Step 3 – Respect the Weather
Huge mountains are notorious for their drastic and unexpected weather changes. Mount Everest is no different.
- One moment, it's clear, and the summit is in sight.
- The next, it's harsh winds and the chance of being stopped by heavy snowfall.
Remember to constantly check weather forecasts and take them seriously before continuing the climb. Climbers often spend days on the mountain, waiting to continue climbing.
Also, any sort of helicopter rescue on Mount Everest is not possible. Although helicopters can reach that altitude, weather conditions make it impossible to attempt.
Step 4 – Trust Your Sherpa
Sherpas are famous for their ability to climb Mount Everest. Sherpas are native to the Himalayan region, descended from Tibetan heritage. They are the real experts and heroes of Mount Everest.
Without their help, reaching the summit is almost impossible. So it is important to trust and learn from them. They have years of knowledge and experience, and they know the mountain better than anyone, including how to cope with avalanches and icefalls.
The record-breaking mountain guide Kami Rita has climbed Mount Everest more than 20 times. He can tell if a climber will be able to summit the mountain or not.
Step 5 – Know the Ropes
It sounds trivial, but at 8,000 m, death could be just one mistake or rope failure away.
- Always make sure to clip into a rope everywhere you go, and don't rush.
- In recent years, one of the major hazards on Mount Everest is the sheer number of climbers on one stretch of the ascent.
People have to wait their turns to keep climbing, which adds to the time it takes to finish the climb and increases the chance that they'll run out of food before they're finished.
Remember that ropes take a lot of wear, so check them daily to make sure they're strong enough for the next day's climb.
Step 6 – See the Bigger Picture
Maybe the most important advice we can give is simply that it's okay to fail.
We know factors like high fees climbers pay to do the climb, and dreams of being one of the few that have made the summit, are important. But at the end of the climb, it's better to turn back, live another day, and hopefully try again.
The English actor Brian Blessed knows all too well. He attempted to summit Everest three times. On his last attempt, Brian was only a few meters from the summit when he chose to sacrifice his chances to help rescue a fellow climber.
Now, in his 80s, he will never get another chance to summit and achieve his ultimate goal.
Climbing to the highest peak in the world is very, very tough. And while the number of people who summit Mount Everest increases every year, the dangers increase too. In 2019, there were long queues in the death zone, and 11 people died in just one week as they waited to continue the climb.
Conclusion
So now that you've survived Mount Everest, what's your next challenge?
Well, how would you survive being buried alive?
Source: How to Survive. (2021, June 5). How to survive Mount Everest [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2SggVSEHcY