 If this was April 1st I wouldn't believe the story, but it's true!
Sure it's about time all the old bits of tat were removed and it makes sense that the teams have finally come up with a solution to the fixed rope problem that causes argument every year about who should pay - but a Via Ferrata!!!!
Personally I think it's the next step in over commercialising the mountaineering experience. Mountaineers have managed to overcome the traffic jams at the 1st and 2nd steps for years by careful planning and arranging their schedules with other groups - so why install an artificial aid unless it's to assist the commercial client?
Who's going to be the first to publish a via ferrata guide to the Himalyas?
Seriously though, I'm extremely pissed off at this and wonder if there's any organisation that like minded people can make representations to (eg whoever makes sites World Heritage Sites) to get this idea binned.
|
 |
 I hear there's going to be a railway up next...
And perhaps, the 'building' planned for snowdon, that has no backing, might be built after all.
Only it'll be a fair few miles away from Eryri this time.
|
|
I wish I'd been able to tip Jon off about this a few days earlier. It would have been interesting to hear Jamling Norgay's thoughts on it - unfortunately the story only broke late today.
|
|
And if you think a Via Ferrata on Everest is bad, just watch this space tomorrow as we bring you even more disturbing news on events in the Himalayas!
|
|
 Read that earlier Dave, and think it's ridiculous.
Of course, it will also add to the numbers of people wanting to climb the mountain, if they think it's been made easier. More people who are ill prepared but have the money to pay and a guide to drag them up will surely just lead to more accidents, not fewer?
|
|
 It's for the queue into Starbucks of course.
|
|
Fantastic. A Mocha Frappucino would be just the ticket after all that walking....
|
|
Not to mention the ubiquitous Mac D's
which pillock dreamed this one up then??
|
|
 What they need is a gondola then you would not even have to get out into that dreadful cold and dare I say risk your life on the world’s tallest mountain.
I for one see this as a mountaineering travesty.
|
|
 Not wanting to sound too morbid but surely this will just mean dead people clipped to the railings instead of lying on the ridge.
Am definately in agreement about it being a bad idea though.
|
|
 They could even install a gondola with oxygen masks, then there would be effort involved at all,You could take yer granny on a trip up there for her 80th!!!
Let's face it, Everest has become a tourist trap. Pretty soon there'll be a hotel there with a swimming pool for all the punters who want to take a trip to the top.
Thankfully, there are many other mountains which will remain pure and unsullied by commercialism. And they are generally much harder and more challenging to climb than Everest, which is really the worlds biggest trekking peak. Everest get's the attention because it's the highest. Reality is it's not the hardest by any stretch.
It is a tragedy and in my eye's sacrilege. When you talk to a Tibetan or Nepali about Everest, it's still seen as a sacred mountain, and now some Nork is going to drill holes in her and stick her full of hardware so a bunch of numpte's with nothing better to do with their money can hike their way up it. Hopefully she'll take revenge in her own way at the indiginity of it all.
|
|
 This has to be stopped, it's total b******ks. Surely the challenge of Everest is it's height and remoteness (relatively). (OK I know it's like piccadilly circus sometimes there , but...). If I am ever lucky enough to go there I'd not want that sort of trip up!
And as CC says- Everest is still a sacred mountain.
|
|
 More people ascending,more tourist pennies for the relervant authotities.Does seem even worse than rolf harris singing "stairway to heaven" though.
|
|
 Noooooooo! Rolf was great!
Bolting Everest eh? Well if it's good enough for Everest then it's good enough fo our local crag. Now where's me battery drill?
Seriously though, they won't be happy 'till the build a cable way up it.
|
|
 Dick, I'm putting the bid in now for building the cable way.
I'm using my extensive experience of putting them in around the Fens to give me the edge.
|
|
 "Have you guessed what is yet?"
|
|
 Well I think you're all being very irresponsible. Me, I think you should be able to sue the damn mountain for being a big cold dangerous thing that might kill you. So: heated, covered walkways all the way up, please. Actually, could we have escalators? Ideally with retail opportunities. A branch of Borders on the South Col so that one can get at second hand the real thrill of the outdoors are surely the least one can expect from one's vacation stroll?
|
|
is surely (sorry, I'm a professional pedant)
|
|
WD: LOL
|
|
