No room at the top
Congestion is causing dangers on the world’s highest mountain
CROWD control could soon become a crucial skill for climbers on Mount Everest, as important as physical strength or watching the weather. In a single day last week, nearly 40 people reached the top of the world—a record. Reports sent by satellite telephone from base camp spoke of queues at precarious ridges and jostling as people passed each other in the final dash for the 8,848 metre (29,028 ft) summit.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “No room at the top”
From the June 2nd 2001 edition
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