There are 14 mountains in the world that stand above 8,000 metres. Only a few of us are likely to rattle off all their names. Most won't go beyond a handful, but almost everyone will name the highest of them all, Mount Everest. A lot remains the same when it comes to the climbing aspirations of the majority today. This, at a time when there is ambiguity over the very definition of mountaineering. Here's why.
There was a time when climbers would stand at the base of a mountain and gaze at it objectively to figure out a feasible route to the summit. These days, behemoths like Everest are roped from bottom to top by high-altitude guides. There's every facility available at a price. And it's accessible for anyone who harbours the dream of standing at the highest point in the world. Welcome to the world of commercial climbing that is at the heart of Everest Inc., American journalist Will Cockrell's first book.
This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of India Today.
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This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of India Today.
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