The Happiness Quotient

Has Everest Lost Its Soul? 2024 SEASON UPDATE

Thom Pollard

Mount Everest is like a ticking time b*mb or a kettle that's about to boil. With about 50 successful summits and the season half over,  hundreds of climbers are waiting for weather to turn for the better in Base Camp. Climbers on summit day last week were hammered by hurricane force, bitter winds, driving them back down from near the Hillary Step.

And what’s worse, the first death of the 2024 season was a high altitude worker, Lakpa Tenji Sherpa, 53, passed away on Makalu, as did Frenchman Johnny Saliba, 60. Both died of non-accident related reasons at high altitude. Much is not known about the situation leading to their passing. Family of Sherpa believe there is negligence on the part of the expedition company.

On Everest, two Mongolian climbers went missing on 12 May. Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Prevsuren Lkhagvajav last made radio contact with Base Camp as they left Camp 4 at 7:30 pm. They planned to reach the summit the following morning but never contacted Base Camp again.

In this episode Angela Benevides, a high altitude mountaineeing and climbing journalist from Explorers Web talks about the significant changes on the mountain. Has Everest Lost its Soul?

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Videos referenced in this presentation:
Legendary Hungarian Climber DISAPPEARS On Everest
https://youtu.be/aLfKIuL9o0k

Most CONTROVERSIAL Mountaineering Accident of 2023 - Race to Summit
https://youtu.be/phwNx6R3Xig

Mongolians missing: https://explorersweb.com/two-mongolian-climbers-missing-on-everest/

Johnny Sebile on Makalu: 
https://explorersweb.com/another-makalu-fatality/

Lakpa Tenji Sherpa passed on Makalu: https://explorersweb.com/sherpa-dies-on-makalu/

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