An Indian mountaineer, Rajan Dwivedi, recently shared a harrowing video depicting the crowded conditions on Mount Everest, emphasizing the gravity of summiting the world’s highest peak. Dwivedi, who fulfilled his decade-long aspiration of reaching the summit, posted the video on Instagram, underscoring that ascending Everest is “not a joke but quite a serious climb.”
The footage captured a lengthy queue of climbers navigating the treacherous terrain, exacerbated by a recent incident where a British climber and his Nepali Sherpa were struck by falling ice during their descent. Dwivedi described the ordeal of descending amidst the congestion, citing the necessity to time climbs with favorable weather conditions to avoid perilous jet streams.
In his caption, Dwivedi outlined the formidable challenges of Everest ascent, particularly highlighting the treacherous Khumbu Icefalls and the grueling climb from Camp 3 to Camp 4 and from Camp 4 to the summit, endured through the chilling night in the “death zone.”
He shed light on the stark reality that while around 500 climbers from various backgrounds attempt the ascent annually, only a fraction succeed, with many succumbing to frostbite, snow blindness, and other injuries. Dwivedi’s post echoes recent concerns raised by mountaineers regarding overcrowding and the inherent dangers posed by such conditions on Everest.
The video serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with scaling the world’s tallest peak, prompting reflection on the need for responsible climbing practices to ensure the safety of all adventurers.
Meanwhile, mountain guide Vinayak Malla also shared chilling footage of a cornice collapse on Everest, detailing the perilous situation he and his team narrowly escaped after summiting. This recent series of incidents underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and heightened awareness regarding the perils of Everest expeditions.
