Andrew Lock talks
I WAS SADDENED to hear that an Australian woman died on Everest in the last few days and that a second member of the same team also died, separately but in the same summit attempt.
I’ve done about 10 media interviews in relation to this latest incident, all asking how highly experienced climbers could succumb to the altitude in this way.
I would question however, whether the victims were highly experienced climbers, or highly experienced clients.
And that is a very big difference because irrespective of how many times they’ve been guided on other mountains, clients depend on others for appropriate leadership, risk management and care. At high altitude, that includes a depth of understanding of altitude’s physiological impacts and various manifestations.
