Text丨Xinlan Shuhua
Editor丨Xinlan Shuhua
Preface
For climbing enthusiasts, Mount Everest is definitely one of the most sacred places in their hearts and the mountain they want to conquer all their lives.
But since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgai, who first climbed Mount Everest in 1953, there have been only a few thousand challengers to the summit.
You must know that there are so many climbing enthusiasts in the world, and the success rate of climbing Mount Everest is so low, which is enough to see how difficult this challenge is.
But it's not just experience and physical fitness that stop climbing enthusiasts, it's also money.
How expensive is climbing Mount Everest, and why is it so expensive?
The cost of security
Mount Everest is extremely high, and the low temperatures brought about by the altitude are one of the top challenges for climbers.
In winter, temperatures can drop below minus 40 degrees Celsius, which is extremely dangerous for humans.
Even in the so-called suitable period, the temperature can cause great harm to the human body, and the extremely low temperature can cause the injured to freeze together with the ground, increasing the difficulty of rescue, and eventually freezing to death.
Even if you survive the low temperature, you may not survive the wind speed on Mount Everest, and the higher the place, the stronger the wind speed, without enough solid mountaineering equipment to protect, it is easy for climbers to be blown away.
This is not only because of the strong wind, but also because at high altitudes, altitude sickness will inevitably occur, and the mountain climbing is tired and confused, coupled with the physical discomfort caused by altitude sickness, it is simply a bargain with death.
To cope with the extreme conditions of Mount Everest, climbers need to choose the best climbing equipment, including alpine boots and crampons, professional cold and wind protection clothing, and more.
Alpine boots are waterproof, breathable, and warm, and can protect the climber's feet in extreme cold conditions.
Crampons provide extra grip and ensure climbers don't slip when walking on steep ridges covered in snow and ice.
Professional cold-proof and wind-resistant clothing is usually composed of multi-layered fabrics, which have the functions of warmth, breathability, and windproof, which can effectively maintain the body temperature of climbers and prevent damage to the body caused by the harsh climate outside.
Due to the professionalism and high quality of mountaineering equipment, its price is also relatively high.
A good pair of alpine boots can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, and equipment such as crampons and cold-proof and wind-resistant clothing can also cost a lot.
Therefore, climbing Mount Everest requires sufficient financial investment to purchase the necessary mountaineering equipment to ensure the safety and smooth ascent of climbers.
The cost of oxygen cylinders is not to be underestimated, and although some have assumed that it is possible to reach the summit without using an oxygen cylinder, this is unrealistic for the vast majority of ordinary people.
At high altitudes, hypoxia can have serious effects on the body and even be life-threatening.
Therefore, climbers usually carry several tanks of oxygen as backup, plus the guide helps to carry oxygen cylinders, and a single climb may need to buy dozens of bottles of oxygen, and the price of each bottle of oxygen can be as high as thousands of yuan, which can be as high as tens of thousands of yuan.
Reaching the summit of Mount Everest is not achieved overnight, and climbers need to do habilitation training before actually starting to reach the summit.
They will go to Everest Base Camp and do a period of acclimatization training there.
These trainings include trekking between base camp and small camps of different gradients, as well as physical and mental training in the face of high-altitude environments.
The cost of this period includes room and board, guide fees, etc., which is also a large expense.
Climbing Mount Everest is not as simple as going to the scenic spot, and the time required to reach the summit can last for several months.
During this time, climbers not only have to face the challenges of the high-altitude environment, but also need to solve survival problems, including food, tents, heating, etc., which require additional financial expenditures.
When it comes to climbing Mount Everest, safety and health are paramount.
Therefore, climbers also need to consider the costs of purchasing insurance and hiring a professional guide to ensure that they can be rescued and treated in time in case of emergency.
The cost of the climbing permit
Before climbing Mount Everest, climbers must first obtain a permit from the local government.
This is not only a legal requirement but also to guarantee the safety of climbers and the preservation of the environment in and around Mount Everest.
With the arrival of the suitable time for mountain climbing every year, a large number of climbers and their teams have poured in, which has brought a lot of inconvenience to the lives of the locals.
Unhappy with the crowd of people who flocked to Everest, the main climbing route on Mount Everest, which is managed by Nepal, the permit fee is quite high, charging millions of dollars a year, equivalent to more than $10,000 per climber.
The cost of the summit permit is used not only to protect the environment, but also to maintain the climbing routes and infrastructure.
Facilities such as fixed ropes, tent camps, oxygen supplies, etc., all need to be maintained and updated regularly to ensure the safety of climbers.
In addition to funding the maintenance of the environment and infrastructure, part of the cost of the summit permit is used for humanitarian aid.
The Government of Nepal uses a portion of the revenue to improve the living conditions of the local population, such as building schools, hospitals, and water projects, and providing better education, healthcare, and living conditions for the local community.
Permits to climb Mount Everest are obtained differently, and for commercial mountaineering teams, they need to apply for a climbing permit from the Nepalese government or the Chinese government.
These commercial mountaineering groups usually provide a package of services, including applying for permits from the government, providing guides, setting up camps, etc., so the cost of the climbing permit is included in the cost of the entire climbing package.
Depending on the situation, the cost of the climbing permit may vary, but generally speaking, the cost of climbing Mount Everest is around 10 to 150,000 RMB.
In addition to the basic climbing permit fee and life safety guarantee fee, climbers can choose other additional fees depending on their situation.
For example, you can choose a higher-end mountaineering team that offers more comprehensive services and better equipment, but this also means paying a higher fee.
The cost of hiring a tour guide
Climbing Mount Everest is not a solo endeavour, and working with a good guide is essential for climbers.
During the climbing trip, the hired guide not only provides route planning and technical guidance, but also provides life support services for the climber to ensure their safety.
Over the past few years, more and more people have successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest, many of whom are not professional mountaineers and have nothing to do with the field of exploration before climbing, it is all about hiring guides.
Sherpas are natives of the Everest region, and they are known for their unique physiology and superior mountaineering skills.
Sherpas have played an integral role in the history of climbing Mount Everest, not only as they excel at surviving and moving in high-altitude environments, but also have a wealth of mountaineering experience and a unique insight into the terrain of the mountains.
Sherpas usually form a team of professional guides who provide a full range of support and services to climbers.
They are responsible for transporting supplies to the mountain, finding paths to create safe climbing routes, and providing the necessary help and support to climbers.
The cost of the guide usually varies according to the size of the guide group, the service and the difficulty of the climbing route, and climbers can choose the right guide group according to their needs and negotiate the cost with them.
Hiring a guide is one of the necessary conditions for climbing Mount Everest, so the local government stipulates that every challenger must hire a guide.
Guide fees usually vary depending on the climber's needs and the specifics of the service, but in general, each climb can cost between $3,500 and $5,000.
This fee covers not only the guide's salary, but also the cost of services, equipment, and food and lodging provided by the guide.
Hiring a guide will increase the cost of the climb, but it is one of the most important things to ensure a safe ascent.
Their experience and skills can help climbers better cope with unexpected situations, reduce the risk of climbing, and increase the success rate of climbing.
So while the guide is expensive, it's a worthwhile investment for climbers pursuing their dreams of reaching the top.
epilogue
In this way, the starting price of climbing Mount Everest must be hundreds of thousands, and the price that can only be pressed by experienced climbers must be hundreds of thousands, and ordinary people must be hundreds of thousands.
Of course, no money is also a very important reason, but no one dares to save costs at such a time, and spending a little less money means that they are one step closer to death.
You only have one life, so while the challenge of climbing Mount Everest is tempting, few people actually try it, and those who are tempted do it best to do it.