A good friend of mine has recently become very interested with all things Everest. Several nights after having a couple of beers, he has asked our group of friends if they think it was possible for someone to have summited Everest before Sir Edmond Hillary, or attempted to summit before George Mallory. One half of the group is adamant that such a feat was impossible before 1921 due to a lack of proper equipment and a cultural reverence for the mountain. The other half believe that it was certainly possible because of the length of human occupation in the region, the adaptation of the Tibetan people to higher altitudes, and the innate ambition of man. Does anyone have scientific evidence for either side of the debate or an educated opinion?
posted by thisiswater on Apr 23, 2012 - 6 answers

Is there any mountain on earth that is considered unclimbable? [more inside]
posted by Camofrog on Feb 14, 2011 - 37 answers

A friend and I want to climb a mountain, ideally inside Europe. Only question, which one? Advice for beginners much appreciated! [more inside]
posted by dragontail on Dec 5, 2010 - 5 answers

Where is this "tourists" mountain trail, and where can I see more pics and find out more about it?
posted by loquacious on Nov 2, 2006 - 7 answers

Did Dave Eggers write a [fabricated] feature story on extreme mountain climbing under a pseudonym for Details magazine 7-8 years ago? [more inside]
posted by junkbox on Oct 23, 2006 - 6 answers