Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Mountaineering

I want to commune with the dead

ollyollyoxenfree — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:22:37 -0800

What are some good official sources for post-catastrophe, post-accident, or post-emergency reporting? In Laurence Gonzales' Deep Survival he writes the following:

Commune with the Dead. If you could collect the dead around you and sit by the campfire and listen to their tales, you might find yourself in the best survival school of all. Since you can't, read the accident reports in your chosen field of recreation. Accidents in North American Mountaineering; the National Speleological Society's newsletter; River Safety Report; and numerous other publications (such as the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) and Web sites not only provide reading that is by turns gripping, hilarious, and heart-wrenching, but also tell you the mistakes other people have made. Then you can be on the lookout for similar situations and perhaps avoid them. (Wasn't this the cave where those scuba divers drowned ...?)

What are some other similar official reporting in this area? Thanks.

Similar recent AskMeFi question.

Morbid Mountaineering Statistics

knewstubb — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:03:33 -0800

I am doing research for a design project into the dangers of mountaineering however I have been unable to find worldwide statistics on the number of people who lose their lives in the mountains each year. Can anyone help with this? Also a breakdown of the causes of death would also be very helpful. Sorry for asking such a morbid question.

Corpses on Everest

cadastral — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:41:27 -0800

I hear that the path one takes while climbing Mt. Everest is littered with the dead bodies of people who have failed in their attempts to summit (1, 2, 3). The wikipedia artcle alludes to the fact that the bodies are "...easily visible from the standard climbing routes."

Well... I've seen a ton of shots of the summit, so I know they've taken cameras up the sonofabitch. And I know something about the morbid human fascination with his impermanence. So the thing I'd like to know is... where are the pictures? Not trying to be ghoulish, at all. Just... I can't stop thinking about the creepyness of stepping over perfectly-preserved corpses while persuing a perfectly optional "leisure" activity.

They don't have to be graphic, but they have to exist... somewhere. I've googled every way I know how. Surely someone must know where they keep them. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Gimme a boost to get started?

jmgorman — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 09:44:36 -0800

Per this FPP, I think I need to take up climbing. Any suggestions on how a beginner might get started. I guess I should fess up to having lousy upper body strength. I've been working on it, but the fact remains that I have a low center of gravity and big ole legs. What should I start doing to build up my strength or should I just start climbing and let that condition me?