The Nepalese government is sending a team of 20 Sherpas to Everest's "death zone" to clean up the dead bodies of those who never made it back from their expeditions. 300 people have died there since 1953; there is also a lot of garbage from spent oxygen tanks and other crap that people couldn't or didn't want to take down with them because of the extra weight. The plan is to leave on May 1st, set up camp at 26,240 feet, and climb up to the most dangerous crux of the ascent.
While I'm fascinated by Everest expeditions and have a lot of respect for the work of the Sherpas as guides and saviors in the region, I am not sure I understand why it's worth risking the lives of more people just to salvage the bodies of those who are deceased.
Sherpa team plans to clean up Everest's death zone [Oakland Tribune]
I'm of two minds about this. Like Lisa wrote, is it worth risking the lives of Sherpas to salvage bodies and perhaps tidy up the "death zone?" Conversely one could make the case that it would be a positive thing, returning the remains to the families and loved ones of the deceased. At what price closure?
I also wonder at the wishes of the explorers regarding the disposition of their bodies should they fail: how likely is it that a number of them wanted to be left where they fell--enduring testaments to lifetimes spent trying to achieve Everest?
Posted via web from Firesaw
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