View from the top

Lately I have been reading about Mt Everest and the crazy number of people that attempt to climb it each year. Just wondering if anyone here has been to the top? I've seen photos where the sky is this deep dark blue. It must be incredible having the whole world underneath you.

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GeniUs · 56-60, M

Not me, I think it was Kilimanjaro that a bunch of my friends went on an exped to and their downfall? That they wouldn't give up. Rather than move slowly it was all about 'getting there' at whatever the cost can't remember the name but basically oxygen starvation starts making you go crazy. The members of the group who just trundled up got there the competitive ones failed.

Laughman · 46-50, M

@GeniUs yeah I think it's oxygen deprivation. The brain starts to shut down and you don't think logically. There is also hypothermia where the climber thinks they are overheating and start stripping down to cool off. Unbelievable.

reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M

@GeniUs a friend of mine did Kilimanjaro, she had no problems but they made some stops to acclimatize to the altitude. its really dangerous to go up too fast, you can die from altitude sickness, even if someone is in good shape. when I was doing a trek in the Himalayas I met a woman who told me that on a previous trek a woman died, she got a headache, went to rest and never woke up.

GeniUs · 56-60, M

Not something that appeals to me, I'm competitive by nature but heights, depths, confined spaces, ok you win!

reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M

@GeniUs funny coincidence that you would mention heights, depths and confined spaces, in 4 days I am going to Colombia and Peru and I plan to : do some high altitude trek, do paragliding, rapel into a cave and scuba dive.

Laughman · 46-50, M

@reflectingmonkey wow. Good luck with it all!

GeniUs · 56-60, M

@reflectingmonkey I did some caving, when my voice went (with fear) I had to make like it was the cold that was making me shake!

reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M

@GeniUs I don't like really tight passages in caves, I am also afraid of bungi jumping and standing on a really high balcony or cliff, I get this feeling like I am getting sucked into the void.