Random Obsessions: Mount Everest

Hi everyone!

I’m starting a new series called Random Obsessions, where I write about the things I’m currently obsessing over.

So naturally, I thought I’d start with Mount Everest. Yep, you guessed it, the tallest mountain in the world.

It all began a couple of years ago. I was scrolling on Instagram, as one does, and found this girl who was posting about trekking to Everest Base Camp, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. For the next several days, I excessively stalked her page waiting for updates.

After that, I started doing my own research on this treacherous mountain.

I watched the movie “Everest,” which follows the expeditions led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer and the night that ended in tragedy. The hikers were caught in a massive snowstorm, which resulted in the deaths of nine climbers, including the legendary Rob Hall himself.

Which, by the way, is based on a true story.

Then I started wondering about all the other people who died while attempting to climb Everest. Those mountaineers who all had the same goal: to summit the largest peak in the world.

And of course, most of their bodies get left behind because bringing them back down is too dangerous.

The frozen bodies end up becoming landmarks for the other hikers.

Can you imagine? Climbing up to Camp 4, aka the death zone, and seeing a body right in front of you. Knowing that person was just as ambitious as you are. Knowing they were attempting the exact same thing you’re attempting now.

It makes me wonder why people would take such a crazy risk. Oh, and I can’t forget the ones who attempt to climb without any oxygen.

But then I also think about the people who do make it to the top and survive to tell the story. The satisfaction they must feel, knowing that all the years of training, physical and mental exhaustion, and pure grit led them to that moment where they’re standing on top of the world. And the best part is they always have a story to tell at dinner parties. Forget small talk. Tell me about the time you nearly fell into a crevasse.

There’s an extremely delusional part of my brain that says I can do it too. I can totally climb Mount Everest.

Then, of course, the more realistic part of my brain says don’t be ridiculous, you’d die in 10 minutes.