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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 17, 2018 - 02:31pm PT
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http://time.com/5272120/nepal-everest-xia-boyu-summit/
Xia is not the first double amputee to conquer Everest — New Zealander Mark Inglis claimed that title in 2006. Santiago Quintero, a climber from Ecuador who is missing parts of both his feet and listed as a double amputee in the Himalayan Database, summited from the Nepal side in 2013. But Xia’s triumph has exacerbated an ethical debate that has been raging for several months: Who belongs on the roof of the world? Many say Xia should not have been allowed to make the attempt in the first place. His critics argue that, in his condition, he posed unacceptable risks not only to himself but to his support team of 12 Sherpas, without which he wouldn’t have stood a chance. (Inglis had to be carried down from the summit on the back of a Sherpa, after developing frostbite.)
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Don Paul
Social climber
Denver CO
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May 17, 2018 - 02:42pm PT
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No doubt someone would have to carry me most of the way also. So maybe the test isn't disability, but whether the person is climbing within their limits, or depending too much on others and putting them at risk.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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May 17, 2018 - 03:08pm PT
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What? There's enough "disabled" climbing now that their starting to conjure up ethics??
I figured even if they lowered them by rope to the summit the they made it!?
Silly!
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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May 17, 2018 - 03:51pm PT
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I remember thinking Herzog was weak sauce for being carried off Annapurna, and that the real heroes were the Sherpas. I’m sure I would have been more weak sauce, but that’s not the point.
I’m not dialed into the Himalayan ethics arguments, but why should disabled folks be singled out when being judged for the same thing that the “Heroes” weren’t judged for?
Anyhoo, our world is full of people who will praise you and judge you horribly no matter what you do. Best bet is to honor your own values and let yourself sleep at night.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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May 17, 2018 - 04:18pm PT
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A few good seasons of heavy weather and all trace of humans would be wiped from the high peaks of the world.
Nature still stands in control of destinies.
Let the kids play. It is fun.
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originalpmac
Mountain climber
Timbers of Fennario
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May 17, 2018 - 08:34pm PT
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My friend Chad Jukes summited in 2016(?) He is an Iraq war vet missing part of one leg. The man totally deserved to be up there. More so than some fat texan.
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 17, 2018 - 10:09pm PT
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An unprepared, reckless person who is perfectly healthy could be a greater risk than a disabled climber who know what he's doing. As long as the Sherpas and guides are informed, it is their business whether they will try to top him out.
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JimT
climber
Munich
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May 18, 2018 - 11:36am PT
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I can´t see where there is any ethical debate to be had unless you are trying to glorify a pastime into something meaningfull (I.e make yourself more important because you participate). It´s relatively pointless discussion, any result would have no impact on the world in any way whatsoever and I couldn´t care a sh*t who climbs any particular mountain in whatever style.
1st world problem indeed.
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Roots
Mountain climber
Redmond, Oregon
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May 18, 2018 - 11:56am PT
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Ethically he cheated...he didn't have to lift heavy dbl boots thousands and thousands of times to reach the top. In other words, his lighter "footwear" put him at an unfair advantage over non-amputee climbers ; )
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ec
climber
ca
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May 18, 2018 - 12:30pm PT
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‘Dude had some badaaaaas crampon prosthetics...
 ec
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 18, 2018 - 12:34pm PT
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Wait, there’s an HR Dept for Everest now?
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Jan
Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
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May 21, 2018 - 11:22am PT
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The Chinese climber in question finally made the summit on his fifth try after losing both legs to frostbite on a previous ascent. When he finally made it to the top, many in his Sherpa team were crying in happiness for him and quickly posted a video of his last few steps. It's their sacred mountain so let them decide.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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May 21, 2018 - 11:49am PT
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What is important, of course, is to be outraged at all times about everything. That's the modern way.
Weird, tho, about these fanatics coming back to the Big E time and again, losing chunks of their bodies. I just don't understand such single-mindedness. You'd think, for example, that life with only one damn finger would be challenging enough, and that after getting the big smack down, you'd know better. But nope! Time to go up and die. Ugh. What a sh*t show.
BAd
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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
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