On This Day

Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay (carrying all the heavy bags) reached the summit of Everest on this day in 1953.

What a waste of time and effort that was.

presume there was nothing on the tv

another reason to have a couple of emergency dvd's stashed away should the desire to climb a big hill ever arise

The phone reception up there was rubbish. Took 3 days before anyone back here found out about it.

I really can't believe people are so negative about this.

I think it's one hell of an achievement to risk life/limbs/sanity simply to get to the highest point in the world - just for the hell of it.

Where would we be now without people like that?

... living on a coin shaped earth, that's where

Humphrey Davy,inventor of the miners safety lamp, died 1829

He could have just waited until the helicopter was invented and saved everyone the hassle of supporting his little adventure.

Many lives are lost each year trying to rescue halfwits who get themselves in the shit trying to copy people like Hillary. These 'adventurers' piss me off; getting themselves in the shit and then expecting others to help them out.

The world would be exactly the same if it wasn't for crappy upper-class twats tramping over the only bits of the planet that are unspoiled. No benefit comes from what they do. And then we're all supposed to treat them like heros when they make it back with scabby toes and boring stories about how cold it was.

Their pictures are shite too.

Biginoil wrote: He could have just waited until the helicopter was invented and saved everyone the hassle of supporting his little adventure.

Many lives are lost each year trying to rescue halfwits who get themselves in the shit trying to copy people like Hillary. These 'adventurers' piss me off; getting themselves in the shit and then expecting others to help them out.

The world would be exactly the same if it wasn't for crappy upper-class twats tramping over the only bits of the planet that are unspoiled. No benefit comes from what they do. And then we're all supposed to treat them like heros when they make it back with scabby toes and boring stories about how cold it was.

Their pictures are shite too.

Gettin up the mountain is the easy bit,

its when they try to get back down

I agree with that - as Billy Connolly once said, 'Mountain Rescue are sick of it, pulling people off mountains in khaki shorts and sand shoes!'

However, these original explorers spent months in training and planning and set out to go where no man had been before.

I don't think 'normal' people should even think about attempting Everest. They go up Helvellyn in the Lakes and think they're the Daddy.

There was a programme on recently monitoring a group of Marines attempting Everest. Even with their skills, fitness levels and the best equipment, there was a death and amputations.

Dodjem wrote: I really can't believe people are so negative about this.

I think it's one hell of an achievement to risk life/limbs/sanity simply to get to the highest point in the world - just for the hell of it.

Where would we be now without people like that?

... living on a coin shaped earth, that's where

well said, that woman.

i'm increasingly aware this isn't a dress rehearsal. doing something extraordinary-ish, or even outside the bounds of our usual behaviour, is so achievable for most of us, yet we sit on our dull little arses doing the same dull shit day after day.

and now i must away to purchase some crampons. it's that time of the month.

bloodynora wrote:

Dodjem wrote: I really can't believe people are so negative about this.

I think it's one hell of an achievement to risk life/limbs/sanity simply to get to the highest point in the world - just for the hell of it.

Where would we be now without people like that?

... living on a coin shaped earth, that's where

and now i must away to purchase some crampons. it's that time of the month.

Get 'Bodyform' with wings,

you can go horse riding,water skiing alsorts of things with them on

You can even wear white jeans..

are they hinged or rigid?

if they don't provide sufficient friction i'm not interested.

bloodynora wrote:

and now i must away to purchase some crampons. it's that time of the month.

Get me a pair, we'll start with Rivi pike. There's a lovely pub at the bottom...

Biginoil wrote: He could have just waited until the helicopter was invented and saved everyone the hassle of supporting his little adventure.

Except the only bloke to actually land a helicopor on Everest is obviously a total Cock...

Didier Delsalle

I had some sleepless nights thinking it through. During the approach, I was so focused I had tunnel vision. But I arrived very gently and asked the mountain to accept me. It was like making a new friend.

bloodynora wrote:

and now i must away to purchase some crampons. it's that time of the month.

I've bought them! Though I still can't play tennis!!

Gazman wrote:

Biginoil wrote: He could have just waited until the helicopter was invented and saved everyone the hassle of supporting his little adventure.

Many lives are lost each year trying to rescue halfwits who get themselves in the shit trying to copy people like Hillary. These 'adventurers' piss me off; getting themselves in the shit and then expecting others to help them out.

The world would be exactly the same if it wasn't for crappy upper-class twats tramping over the only bits of the planet that are unspoiled. No benefit comes from what they do. And then we're all supposed to treat them like heros when they make it back with scabby toes and boring stories about how cold it was.

Their pictures are shite too.

Gettin up the mountain is the easy bit,

its when they try to get back down

What they need is a non-chloritic, silicon-based kitchen lubricant and a sled and they'd be set...

at least Sir Ed was better than that self-important charlatan Bear Gryls, or whatever his ridiculous name is.