Sunday, September 24, 2017

How to Ruin Your Time in the Mountains

I whined before about how outdoorsy types can turn being outdoorsy into a status game, but this is even worse:
"Right now, it has been exactly three years since my 2014 ascent of Mount Everest," she wrote. The status was accompanied by a photo of Wang half-squatting at the peak of the world's highest mountain, while two Sherpas help her unfurl the Chinese flag. In the background, the sun is setting behind the endless snowcapped summits of the Himalayas.

However, Wang's Everest ascent continues to stir up considerable controversy in mountaineering circles. The Sichuan-born entrepreneur didn't make the whole climb on foot; instead, she flew by helicopter from base camp, situated at 5,364 meters above sea level, to the second camp at 6,400 meters before actually beginning to climb.
I find myself feeling sorry for these people. More on how Chinese businesspeople are missing the point of mountaineering here.

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