mt everest : the demise of " the hillary step "

the hillary step is [ or was ] a pinnacle of rock over 12m tall - just below the summit of mt everest - it was named [ and made famous] by the 1953 expedition that culminated in hillary and tenzing being the first humans to stand on the summit .

the " step " is the last major technical challenge on the SE [ nepal side ] route to the summit - a 12 m climb doesnt SOUND that challenging - but hear in mind - that this is at > 8500m ASL - and failure can involve a 3000m fall

now - it has collapsed - the aftermath of the 2015 nepal earthquake is cited as a significant causal factor

though i cannot help wondering if the effect of thousands of climbers has not played a role too ?

but whatever the cause - an iconic feature of the mountain has now gone - and despite the fact that hilary step was a obstacle - the void it has left is reportedly more challenging to climbers

nothing is forever

news source

wikki primer on the obstacle

a reply to: ignorant_ape

In the link you shared way at the bottom is a video from the BBC that I find interesting and will look further into it, thanks for that.
A climber is describing new training techniques and new (modern?) O2 delivery systems that can/seems to be able to minimize the effects of the death zone and cut the entire Everest trip length time in half. That's amazing, to me.

I also read that there have been 292 reported deaths related to Everest, initial report starting in 1922, and 6 of them already this year. 19 people were killed at base camp from the earthquake in 2015. 9000 people overall. 9000.

Would it please be possible to state in your thread that this marvellous post is is to discuss Sir Edmund Hilary and the pinnacle and not the other. which might trigger some people (probably too late...).. I can see the triggered shills appearing when they wake up and see that name without the extra "L"

Bookmarked for extra reading... Thanks IG

Warmest

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a reply to: ignorant_ape

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
though i cannot help wondering if the effect of thousands of climbers has not played a role too ?

I think the environmental conditions at the top of Everest have a significantly greater impact than the occasional human climbing up. High winds, freezing, erosion and all that. I suppose that it's just lucky someone was not on it at the time as that would have ruined someone's day.

a reply to: ignorant_ape

It appears it may not have gone

Everest's Hillary Step: Has it gone or not?

Pasang Tenzing Sherpa, a high-altitude guide who just returned from the mountain, insisted to BBC Nepali on Monday that the step was intact. Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association, agreed. "Nothing has happened to Hillary Step as a result of the earthquake," he told BBC Nepali. "It's only that only a small portion of the rock is visible, the rest is under snow." But Mr Mosedale and other climbers will not be swayed. "It's gone," he said adamantly again on Monday evening, via Facebook. "There's not enough snow to cover what was a MASSIVE block." He has posted pictures which he says proves his point, and he plans to take more as he heads back to the summit on Monday evening, guiding other climbers.

I don't think it makes much difference whether it's there or not though, Everest is always going to the hardest mountain to climb, just yesterday 4 climbers in different instances died (1 has gone missing but presumed dead)

a reply to: ignorant_ape

Wow, no link to Global Warming?

I'm shocked...

a reply to: Discotech

thanks - as i obviosly follow the more specialised climbing news - i have been aware of the " hillary step " - destroyed // intact doscussion since for a while

but declined to bring it to ATS till someone made a definative statement - mosedale and others now have - so i posted

i guess that we will need a major thaw // avalance to provide more evidence

the sherpas have no reason to lie - but there again - neither do the apline guides

a reply to: ignorant_ape

Yep it seems confusing, I'd say trust the experts but both sides are what I'd consider experts so it's difficult to know who is correct, does the summit ever thaw out ?

I don't know why,but anything that has to do with Everest or K2,I am very interested in.I never involved myself in mountain climbing ever in my life.I really wish I had.

Thanks for the cool thread ignorant_ape.Great read.