9.55 Climbing Mount Everest
How incredible would it be to climb Mount Everest? It is certainly not for the weak! Come and learn about what it would be like, some people who have done it before and some tips in case you choose to make the climb.
Climbing Mount Everest
Can you imagine standing at the bottom of a tall mountain? What a sight that would be! Now, can you imagine standing at the bottom, looking to the top, knowing that you were going to climb it? Imagine the flood of emotions you would experience – excitement, fear, joy, nervousness. Well this is what many people feel right before they climb the mighty Mount Everest.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, coming in at a whopping 29,035 feet high above sea level. It is in the Himalayan mountain range, which is between the countries of Tibet and Nepal in southern Asia.
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth.
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Mount Everest Dangers
You would think that the sheer size of Mount Everest would be enough to make climbing it a huge challenge, but there are several other risks that climbers can experience along the way. For one thing, Mount Everest has been known to have avalanches, which are when large amounts of snow and ice tumble down the mountainside. This is more than just a few snowballs – avalanches can kill you.
Another risk that climbers can encounter are the crevasses, which are large cracks in the ice. Crevasses are deep enough for climbers to fall in and never escape. Finally, climbers worry about the death zone. This is at the top of the mountain, where the altitude is so high that climbers have a hard time getting enough oxygen to breathe.
1. Main points:
Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, presents climbers with various dangers including avalanches, crevasses, and the death zone, where the high altitude makes breathing difficult.
2. Questions:
- Content Analysis: What are the main dangers faced by climbers on Mount Everest?
- Contextual Analysis: How does the altitude of Mount Everest contribute to its challenges?
- Thematic Analysis: What emotions might climbers experience when preparing to climb Mount Everest?
3. Further Discussion:
- If you were to prepare for a Mount Everest climb, what kind of training or equipment do you think you would need?
4. Answers:
- Content Analysis: "Mount Everest has been known to have avalanches… Another risk… are the crevasses… Finally, climbers worry about the death zone."
- Contextual Analysis: "This is at the top of the mountain, where the altitude is so high that climbers have a hard time getting enough oxygen to breathe."
- Thematic Analysis: "Imagine the flood of emotions you would experience – excitement, fear, joy, nervousness."
People Who’ve Climbed Everest
With all these dangers, who in the world would want to climb Mount Everest? Well, a lot of people actually! Thousands of people have tried to climb Mount Everest, and only about 650 people have succeeded. Unfortunately, around 200 people have died while trying to make the climb.
The first people to ever climb Mount Everest and successfully reach the top are Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing, and they did so in 1953. Since then, around 4,000 people have attempted the climb. A man named Apa Sherpa is famous for having the most Everest climbs – he made it up the mountain more than 20 times, earning him the nickname ‘Super Sherpa.’ But this climb isn’t just for grownups, as the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest was 13-year-old Jordan Romero.
There are many dangers to Mount Everest climbers, like avalanches and crevasses.
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Tips for the Climb
Think you’re up for the challenge? You can do anything you set your mind to, but if you are going to climb Mount Everest, here are a few tips to ensure that you have a safe experience:
- Stay hydrated. This will protect you from becoming dehydrated or developing altitude sickness.
- Don’t go alone. If you trip on a crevasse or start to get sick, it will be helpful to have someone there to help you. Many people go in groups led by a Sherpa. The Sherpas are people who are native to the area, and they are used to the altitude changes and have knowledge about mountains and climbing.
- Bring your gear. You will need lots of different things for your climb, like an ice axe, carabiner, rappelling equipment and much more.
1. Main points:
Thousands have attempted to climb Mount Everest, with notable climbers like Sir Edmund Hillary, Sherpa Tenzing, and Apa Sherpa, but it’s a dangerous endeavor with risks like avalanches and crevasses. Preparation and safety tips include staying hydrated, not climbing alone, and bringing essential gear.
2. Questions:
- Content Analysis: Who are some of the notable climbers of Mount Everest?
- Contextual Analysis: What makes climbing Mount Everest so challenging and dangerous?
- Thematic Analysis: What are some essential safety tips for climbing Mount Everest?
3. Further Discussion:
- If you could meet any of the famous Everest climbers, who would it be and what would you ask them?
4. Answers:
- Content Analysis: "The first people to ever climb Mount Everest and successfully reach the top are Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing… Apa Sherpa… made it up the mountain more than 20 times… the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest was 13-year-old Jordan Romero."
- Contextual Analysis: "Thousands of people have tried to climb Mount Everest, and only about 650 people have succeeded. Unfortunately, around 200 people have died while trying to make the climb."
- Thematic Analysis: "Stay hydrated… Don’t go alone… Bring your gear."
Lesson Summary
Climbing Mount Everest is incredible, but it can be risky. There are deadly forces everywhere, such as avalanches and crevasses. If you do decide to go, look into getting a Sherpa to lead you, as they have much knowledge about Mount Everest.