Review of Everest (2015) by Gary P — 15 Jul 2017

Beautiful but heart breaking true story that happened two decades ago. I read about this horrific news of 8 people dying in a single expedition in Time magazine. So it was especially moving to watch this film fleshing out the characters involved.

Rob Hall, characterised as that kind and hand holding trekking leader made it impossible not to shed tears while watching the heart wrenching horrific conclusion. Commercialising trekking expedition such as scaling Mount Everest multiplies the risk of casualties many times more given many bottle necks in the narrow treacherous path to the top and that there are narrow time windows of safe periods.

Human follies or selfishness such as fighting over scarce resources and non cooperation amongst folks jeopardise lives even more with more and more commercial companies set up to cash on 65k/person. Case in point is leaving oxygen tanks at certain depots or the scheduling appropriately and unselfishly to accommodate safe group sizes for time windows for the ascent.

Watching this film brought memories of trekking Mount Shasta (4322m). Of course this is only half has high as Mt Everest (8848m) but it was nevertheless no walk in the park. The film and my Mt Shasta experience underlines the importance of preparation of both fitness and having the right equipment.

For city slickers like me, my ill preparation for trekking in Mt Shasta only meant greater suffering and gratitude to good samaritans and fate for saving my skin. John Krakauer struck a cord with me, when he questioned the group on their individual motives to embark on this insane mission or activity.

Apart from Rob Hall and the Sherpas for mercenary reasons, most if not all did it to satisfy their egotism and narcissism.