Thou shalt not climb Mt. Everest?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paris_Blues
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Paris_Blues

Guest
What does the Church teach about people wanting to climb Mt. Everest?

The reason why I’m asking this because I’m thinking it could be a sin in a sense that it’s a great way of getting killed and risking your health and life due to the fact that it’s so dangerous. We’ve all heard of people climbing that thing and getting killed, etc. That’s a big risk.

Well?

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Paris Blues:
What does the Church teach about people wanting to climb Mt. Everest?

The reason why I’m asking this because I’m thinking it could be a sin in a sense that it’s a great way of getting killed and risking your health and life due to the fact that it’s so dangerous. We’ve all heard of people climbing that thing and getting killed, etc. That’s a big risk.

Well?

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Click to expand...
Your instinct toward the answer is correct, Paris.

Risking one’s life for another or for high purpose is one thing, risking one’s life simply for the thrill indicates a cavalier and self-serving attitude towards the gift of life that has been given us.

" . . .the virtue of fortitude enables a person to stand firm against and endure the hardships of life and to remain steadfast in pursuing what is good. Here such steadfastness and endurance reflect the soul’s clinging onto what is good. Genuine fortitude does not entail making sacrifices or risking one’s life arbitrarily or foolishly. However, genuine fortitude is always exercised in accord with reason, assesses the true nature and value of things (i.e., asking whether something is really worth sacrificing for) and involves a just cause. Fortitude strengthens the individual’s resolve to resist temptation, overcome personal weaknesses and make sacrifices for what is good."

The full article can be read here:

catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990930.htm
 
I don’t do mountain climbing, arctic exploration, or anything else having to do with cold, snow, etc. As my SU will testify, I don’t even do movies and TV shows in those settings 😛 😃

DaveBj
 
I read somewhere or other that only about one in ten climbers of Mount Everest dies there.
 
Al Masetti:
I read somewhere or other that only about one in ten climbers of Mount Everest dies there.
Click to expand...
Only?

:confused:

That’s a pretty high mortality rate.
 
Ya better just stay in bed then. Driving in this country (the USA) is FAR MORE DANGEROUS than climbing Mt. Everest. More people are killed every year in this country from car wrecks than were killed in the entire Vietnam war. No, it is not inherently sinful. Now, If you intentionally go without proper gear, guide, or raing, with the intent of dying, then yes. Otherwise, no. I ride a motorcycle- and I don’t have a cavalier attitude about it. In fact, I bet Jesus would be a biker in this day and age! Think about it- " this man, he is a drunkard, and eats with prostitutes and tax collectors." Anyway I am far more likely to die on my bike than you are on Mt. Everest. Enjoy the climb! 👍
 
Wouldn’t it make you real tired to do it…and what about if you did it on Thursday …you would miss “My Name is Earl” on TV and everything !!! Sorry,Not For Me!
 
40.png
St.Eric:
Ya better just stay in bed then. Driving in this country (the USA) is FAR MORE DANGEROUS than climbing Mt. Everest. More people are killed every year in this country from car wrecks than were killed in the entire Vietnam war. No, it is not inherently sinful. Now, If you intentionally go without proper gear, guide, or raing, with the intent of dying, then yes. Otherwise, no. I ride a motorcycle- and I don’t have a cavalier attitude about it. In fact, I bet Jesus would be a biker in this day and age! Think about it- " this man, he is a drunkard, and eats with prostitutes and tax collectors." Anyway I am far more likely to die on my bike than you are on Mt. Everest. Enjoy the climb! 👍
Click to expand...
So, every ten times you get in a car, you’ll die?
 
my agatha:
So, every ten times you get in a car, you’ll die?
Click to expand...
Depends are where you are driving! 😃 I would like to see some references where the 1 in 10 figures come from. Anyway, like I said, If you are not INTENDING to die on the mountain, and you approach your climb responsibly, with the right gear, experience, and guides, then it is not anymore sinfull than walking down the street and getting creamed by a car.
 
I googled and found this statistic

“Close to 2,000 people have successfully climbed Everest; 179 people have died giving a fatality rate of 9.3% (fatality rate is defined as successful summits compared to fatalities). However, since 1992 fatality statistics have changed the rate has dropped to 5.5%; 65/1166. I can’t find the stats on those who turned back before reaching the summit.”

http://www.taxtyranny.ca/images/HTML/AER/MC/MC2.html

According to these stats, the fatality rate of deaths to successful summiting is 9.3%, but that this figure does not count those who turn around before summiting. Therefore, it’s not really an accurate percentage of deaths to attempts.
 
The key thing is to start early in the climbing season.

If you start late, then there is a higher risk of not making it before the end of the season. You wouldn’t want to get caught DEAD going there AFTER the season. ]

Some folks have made the climb more than once.

There are several “problems”… ISSUES, really… there are no real PROBLEMS… only ISSUES… the trail at the top is very narrow and only one or two people can fit up on the summit at one time. And some people are greedy and selfish… dilly-dallying while taking pictures, waving at passing airliners, etc.

There is a HUGE litter problem with inconsiderae hikers leaving oxygen bottles behind.

Dodging all the other climbers gets to be a nuisance as there is a rush as the season closes down.

And you need to be respectful of the frozen deceased you encounter along the way.

If you do die, the probably there won’t be anyone to bring you back home.

It used to cost around $60K per person (single occupancy). Probably, to do it right, it would take several months of travel, outfitting. And a year or two of physical conditioning. And maybe ten years of practice on lesser peaks.

Start by running a marathon up Pike’s Peak. It’s only 15000 feet or so, but there is a road and if you can run up to the top without passing out, then it’s a good indication you might be able to make it (with training) up to the top of Everest.
 
40.png
spiritblows:
According to these stats, the fatality rate of deaths to successful summiting is 9.3%, but that this figure does not count those who turn around before summiting. Therefore, it’s not really an accurate percentage of deaths to attempts.
Click to expand...
:confused:

The fatality rate of deaths to successful summiting isn’t accurate because it doesn’t include those who failed to successfully summit?

Uh-huh.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
The fatality rate of deaths to successful summiting isn’t accurate because it doesn’t include those who failed to successfully summit?

Uh-huh.

– Mark L. Chance.
[/quote]

They don’t have statistics on those who turn around before summiting, apparently. So, the 9.3% isn’t the actual risk of dying if one attempts to climb Everest, since most of those who attempt to climb it turn around and safely return to basecamp, and they aren’t included in the stats.

In other words, most of the people who attempt to climb Everest turn around, and they neither die or reach the summit.
 
**Hi Paris et al, 👋 **

I can’t shed anymore light on the death statistics, but I would like to comment on the amount of deaths which occur during the attempt to climb Mt. Everest.

I was recently watching a documentary about 3 Victorian (Australian) Policemen who were attempting to climb Mt. Everest in memory of a colleague who had died in the attempt a couple of years ago. The Australian’s were at the base camp with many other from all over the world, and tragedy was commonplace during their collective adventures.

The journalist covering the story was there through the 2 months acclimatizing and the subsequent trials and tribulations of the climb; she and others suffered altitude sickness, which on the same day claimed the lives of two others. On another day, three people were killed in the attempt, 2 more died attempting the climb on another day. Several narrowly missed being killed / injured by an avalanche one day and 7 were severely injured by an avalanche and airlifted to hospital the very next day. I can’t recall if it was in the airlifting, but at one point a helicopter crashed trying to get off the mountain, due to the weather conditions…these are just some of the events I can recall; but it seems to me, that an extraodinary amount of deaths / injuries occur attempting to climb Mt. Everest.

**Any Christian considering climbing Mt. Everest, (or any other extreme adventure) should examine his / her conscience and decide whether they would be glorifying God or themselves. **
The policemen I mentioned above, raised over AU$100 000 for a children’s charity, so whilst they could be seen to be honouring a friend and themselves, they were also honouring God by helping God’s children.
Peace and love to you all.
 
Nun_ofthe_Above said:
**Hi Paris et al, 👋 **

I can’t shed anymore light on the death statistics, but I would like to comment on the amount of deaths which occur during the attempt to climb Mt. Everest.

I was recently watching a documentary about 3 Victorian (Australian) Policemen who were attempting to climb Mt. Everest in memory of a colleague who had died in the attempt a couple of years ago. The Australian’s were at the base camp with many other from all over the world, and tragedy was commonplace during their collective adventures.

The journalist covering the story was there through the 2 months acclimatizing and the subsequent trials and tribulations of the climb; she and others suffered altitude sickness, which on the same day claimed the lives of two others. On another day, three people were killed in the attempt, 2 more died attempting the climb on another day. Several narrowly missed being killed / injured by an avalanche one day and 7 were severely injured by an avalanche and airlifted to hospital the very next day. I can’t recall if it was in the airlifting, but at one point a helicopter crashed trying to get off the mountain, due to the weather conditions…these are just some of the events I can recall; but it seems to me, that an extraodinary amount of deaths / injuries occur attempting to climb Mt. Everest.

**Any Christian considering climbing Mt. Everest, (or any other extreme adventure) should examine his / her conscience and decide whether they would be glorifying God or themselves. **
The policemen I mentioned above, raised over AU$100 000 for a children’s charity, so whilst they could be seen to be honouring a friend and themselves, they were also honouring God by helping God’s children.
Peace and love to you all.
Click to expand...

Is this what we have to do now days to honor God or raise money for children’s charities? Climb Everest? Heavens!
 
Before examing your conscience as to your motives for a Mt. Everest climb, be sure you have at least $60,000.00 for the expedition.
 
I believe that if one feels called to climb then do it. Moses did not say Mt. Sinai was to high. But do note “IF YOU FEEL CALLED NOT FOR YOUR OWN SELFISHNESS AND FAME”
 
Peace,

It would seem my comment brought about some less
than favourable responses.
I did not mean you can’t climb mount everest at all. A lot of people climb it for pure pleasure, relishing nature and a bit of a challenge, and that in and of itself is fine, but some want to be famous and try and do things which will bring them fame and fortune, whatever the risk; which flies in the face of the Christian maxim of, Ad Majorum Dei Gloriam…For The Greater Glory of God.
Last I checked we are all called to help the poor and needy ; and raising money for charity is one of the ways we can help. Some achieve this by taking on interesting events / challenges, such as the men I mentioned.

If I offended anyone, please accept my apology. It was most certainly not intended. To be honest, until I read Paris’ question, I had never contemplated the situation! I had to sit a while before composing my response, as I had to contemplate that which God desires of us, and formulated my response around those requirements.

Peace and love to all
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top