It usually takes weeks to climb Mt Everest due to altitude acclimation. A group of British climbers did it in less than a week by inhaling xenon gas, which allegedly helps acclimatize people to high altitudes more quickly.
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Comments 4
…plus ten weeks of sleeping in a hypoxic tent.
I heard about this on public radio and the comments from the expert was that this is effective for well-trained, careful climbers. It’s not so much a shortcut as a way to spend less time away from home. The fear is that less prepared climbers will try this with deadly consequences.
I’m no climber, but that fear seems not just plausible but likely considering how this is being framed as a quick fix.
Anyone else's brain connect the dots between this and the "Who Cares" era link/post?
Rich people doing things that don't help anybody is not something I care to interact with anymore.
This isn't art or creative in any way. Just dudes bragging about spending money.
I feel the rich people complaint is overplayed. What this does raise IMO is some further ethical considerations. Sherpas already take on the burden of work and risk to make Everest achievable. This new approach extends that significantly: why suffer any discomfort or risk at base camp and through multiple acclimatization trips when you can remain comfortable at home until someone else has fixed ropes to the summit?
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