"The deadly hazards I wrote about attracted novice climbers to Everest like gamblers to a slot machine. Into Thin Air was better advertising for his business than anything he could have imagined."
"From 1921 through 1996, one person was killed, on average, for every five who reached the summit. Over the next 28 years, that ratio diminished to one death for every 68 summits."
"The greater likelihood of surviving an Everest expedition might come as a surprise, given the numerous photos of alarming traffic jams on the mountain that have gone viral in recent years."
"Weather forecasts are more accurate, oxygen masks are more efficient and reliable, guided climbers are now provided with as many oxygen canisters as they are willing to pay."
Since the publication of Into Thin Air, the number of climbers on Everest has surged, with 90 percent of ascents made by commercial guides. The death rate has significantly decreased, from one death per five summits before 1996 to one per 173 summits in 2025. Improved weather forecasting, reliable oxygen masks, and the availability of oxygen canisters have contributed to this increased safety, despite the alarming images of traffic jams on the mountain. The allure of Everest continues to attract novice climbers, contrary to expectations of reduced interest after the 1996 disaster.
Read at The Atlantic
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