In a move that I’m sure had all backcountry skiing heli-haters throwing fits, last spring a helicopter landed on the summit of Mount Everest. The outfit that accomplished this presents information and video on Mount Everest Net. This amazing display of flying skill and technology is mind blowing, especially the clip of coming in from above the summit, I mean, what if he MISSES?
Cool techie stuff on one level, yet one wonders how often they’re going to start landing helicopters on top of Mount Everest.
As an alpinist I’ve always disliked the desecration of Everest by folks paying for the summit, basically pulled up there by slaving Sherpas who have one of the most risky jobs on earth (“ohhh, they’re so cute, let me hang a photo of them on my wall when I get home, and let’s throw these prayer flags up in our front yard too…”). But at least those summits-for-dolllars sloggers were human powered (after their overseas passenger jet ride, anyhow).
Now, with enough money, you could pay someone to fly you up there. Come to think of it, perhaps that’s better — unless they say they’ve “climbed” it — and they might just do that.
More, what’s to stop TGR from filming a summit ski descent, now that Tanner Hall can land up there in a helicopter? I’d rent the video –might even buy it if he skis some of it backwards.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
