The fatal locations were below “Hillary Step”
It is reported that in this mountaineering tragedy, a German climber died at an altitude of 8,700 meters; a Korean climber died near the Balcony wall at the summit, a Canadian climber died at 8,650 meters; and the body of 55-year-old Chinese climber Ha
Wenyi was found at an altitude of 8,600 meters.
Sun Yiquan stated that based on the altitudes where these climbers perished, they were likely below “Hillary Step.” Moreover, several climbers died during their descent after reaching the summit, which is likely related to physical exhaustion. “Over the years, a significant proportion of fatalities during Everest climbs have occurred during the descent. If climbers exhaust their energy reserves while ascending and lack sufficient stamina for the descent, problems can easily arise. Therefore, climbers must have a correct assessment of their own physical condition and make rational judgments and choices about whether to attempt the summit. If you feel your stamina is insufficient—even if the summit is just inches or even one meter away—you should decisively turn back to ensure your safety.”
Severe Weather Is Also a Major Cause of Tragedies
Apart from physical factors, encountering severe weather was another main cause of this tragedy. Sun Yiquan analyzed: “Severe weather is related to global warming. Under warming atmospheric conditions, the weather above 8,000 meters is extremely unstable, and this situation is showing signs of worsening. On a side note, environmental protection really should be a concern and priority for everyone.”
In addition, Sun Yiquan also advised domestic climbers to choose domestic mountaineering organizations whenever possible. “The success of a climbing plan has a lot to do with the guidance of the Sherpas. It’s said that this year, the suitable window for summiting Everest from the South Side was only 48 hours—very limited. If there’s even a slight misjudgment in guidance, there might not be enough time.” According to Sun Yiquan, currently, climbing activities on the South Side of Everest are organized by foreign mountaineering agencies, whereas the domestic organization “Sacred Mountain Expeditions” arranges climbs on the North Side.
Sun Yiquan believes that although both the South and North slopes have well-established climbing routes, he still recommends that domestic climbers choose domestic mountaineering organizations. “The service level of China’s mountaineering organizations is now world-leading, and the guiding capabilities of domestic Sherpas are also very strong. Moreover, domestic climbers and guides can communicate more conveniently during the climb—there’s no language barrier, allowing for more detailed communication. Guides can also gain a fuller understanding of the climbers’ physical condition and health status. This helps avoid issues arising from miscommunication in command and coordination, thereby increasing the safety margin of the climb.”
By Our Reporter
Liu Liu
A Chronicle of Conquering Everest
In 1903, British mountaineer Frank Smythe led a British climbing team to conduct the first reconnaissance of the Everest region.
On May 29, 1953, a 10-member British climbing team climbed Everest again, with Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reaching the summit. This marked the first time humans stood atop the world’s third pole.
On May 25, 1960, Tibetan climber Gongbu and Han teammates Wang Fuzhou and Qu Yinhua, after enduring great hardships, planted the Five-Star Red Flag on Mount Everest, achieving the great feat of the first human ascent to the top of the world from the northern side. Gongbu placed the Five-Star Red Flag, a bust of Chairman Mao made of plaster, and a note written by Wang Fuzhou near a rock slightly down from the summit, securing them with rocks.
In 1975, China’s second large-scale climbing team arrived at the foot of Everest, and eventually, nine brave climbers reached the summit, with Tibetan female climber Phantog becoming the first woman in the world to successfully summit from the northern side.
On May 9, 2007, after a long period of training, acclimatization, and waiting, 17 climbers from the Tibet Mountaineering Team, the Tibet Mountaineering School, and mainland universities, who were part of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Everest Test Climbing Team, finally reached the summit, laying the foundation for the torch relay.
On May 8, 2008, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Everest Climbing Team successfully summited Everest. Awang, a graduate of the Tibet Mountaineering School and a high-altitude guide responsible for news coverage, reached the summit for the seventh time—the most by any domestic climber.