Mount Everest in 2016

File:ISS004E8852 everest.jpg]]

The Nepal Department of Tourism said by June 2016 that about 456 people made it to the summit of Mount Everest, including 45 women. They noted some good summit windows, and on one day, 19 May 2016, 209 climbers made it to the summit.{{cite news|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/mt-everest-records-456-south-summits-five-deaths/ |title= Mt Everest records 456 south summits, five deaths |work=The Himalayan Times |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} By 11 May 2016 the lines were fixed on the south side of Everest, after which several hundred climbers would make it up in the critical weather windows.{{cite news |title=19-year-old becomes youngest Japanese to climb Mount Everest |url= http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/26/national/19-year-old-becomes-youngest-japanese-climb-mount-everest/#.V21ouxKeZ_5 |access-date= 31 January 2017 |work=Japan Times |agency=Kyodo |date= 26 May 2016}} Alan Arnette published his Everest report by year end, based on results for the now 93-year-old Elizabeth Hawley, which were released in December 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2016/12/30/everest-by-the-numbers-2017-edition/|title=Everest by the Numbers: 2017 Edition|date=30 December 2016|website=alanarnette.com|access-date=23 October 2017}} For 2016 her records indicate 641 made it to the summit early 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.himalayandatabase.com/2016%20Season%20Lists/2016%20Spring%20A16.html|title=Himalayan Database Expedition Archives of Elizabeth Hawley|website=www.himalayandatabase.com|access-date=16 April 2019}}

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2013 set a record for most summiters in a year, around 667, not surpassed until 2018 when around 800 summited the peak.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2018/05/24/everest-2018-season-summary-record-weather-record-summits/|title=Everest 2018: Season Summary – Record Weather, Record Summits|date=25 May 2018|website=The Blog on alanarnette.com|language=en-US|access-date=22 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2393183/mount-everest-2019-preview|title=What to Watch for on Everest This Year|last=Arnette|first=Alan|date=4 April 2019|website=Outside Online|language=en|access-date=10 April 2019}}

On 11 May 2016, nine Sherpas summited Mount Everest. The next day another six persons reached the top.{{cite web|url= http://theweek.com/speedreads/623932/climbers-reach-mount-everest-summit-first-time-2-years |title= Climbers reach Mount Everest summit for the first time in 2 years}} These were the first summitings since 2014, when 106 made it to the top.{{cite web |url=http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2014/06/09/everest-2014-season-summary-nepal-tragedy/ |title= Everest 2014: Season Summary – A Nepal Tragedy |website= Alanarnette.com |format=Blog |access-date=17 June 2016}} By 13 May, 42 climbers had reached the summit{{cite news |url= http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-05-13/27-mountaineers-including-13-nepalis-scale-mt-everest.html |title= 27 mountaineers, including 13 Nepalis, scale Mt Everest |work= Kathmandu Post}} and by 22 May, good weather had allowed over 400 climbers to reach the summit. However, about 30 climbers developed frostbite or became sick, and two climbers died from what was reported as possible altitude sickness.{{cite news |title=After 2 deaths, 30 others frostbitten or sick on Everest |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-2-deaths-30-others-frostbitten-or-sick-on-Everest/articleshow/52385993.cms |work= Times of India |issue= 22 May 2016| access-date= 22 May 2016}} Among those that had to turn back was a science expedition attempting to study the link between hypoxia and cognitive decline.{{cite web |url= https://www.science.org/content/article/medical-complications-cut-everest-research-expedition-short |title= Medical complications cut Everest research expedition short |date=17 May 2016 |website= Science {{!}} AAAS |access-date= 25 May 2016}} Although it did not run its course, it did give some clues into the effects of high-altitude acclimatisation on human blood.

Adrian Ballinger and Cory Richards were sponsored by Eddie Bauer to climb Everest, and they relayed information from the Everest climb using the smartphone software application and service Snapchat.{{cite news |last=Agard |first= Chancellor |url= http://www.people.com/article/mount-everest-snapumentary-adrian-ballinger-cory-richards |title= Two Mount Everest Climbers Are Documenting Their Entire Journey on Snapchat in the First Ever Snap-umentary |work=People |date=19 May 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Mount Everest has had a 3G wireless data communication network since 2010.{{cite news |author= Manesh Shrestha |url= http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/10/28/everest.mobile/ |title= Mount Everest gets 3G mobile network |work=CNN |access-date= 17 June 2016}} One of the things that was reported by them, was that bottled oxygen was stolen from them and there was some bad behaviour up there.{{cite web |url= http://www.wfaa.com/news/nation-now/everest-explorers-trash-bad-behavior-threaten-mountain/235811957 |title= Everest explorers: Trash, bad behavior threaten mountain |website= WFAA.com |date=7 June 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} The bottled oxygen was there for emergency back-up if they ran into trouble. Cory Richards summited Mount Everest without oxygen and returned safely, and Adrian made it almost to the top also. Another famous mountaineer, British climber Kenton Cool achieved his 12th Everest summit (the second-highest number of Everest summitings for a foreigner after Dave Hahn), and US celebrity mountaineer Melissa Arnot, completed her sixth summit, and achieved her personal goal of climbing Everest without supplemental oxygen.{{cite web |url= http://www.rockandice.com/climbing-news/interview-melissa-arnot-on-climbing-everest-without-supplemental-oxygen |title= Interview: Melissa Arnot on Climbing Everest Without Supplemental Oxygen |author=Seth Heller |website= Rock & Ice |date= 6 June 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} This also turned out to be the most summits for a foreign female (not Nepali or Chinese), and one of the first US women to summit and survive without supplemental oxygen.

In 1998, Francys Arsentiev had reached the summit, but died during the descent; she went on to become a famous corpse as a landmark known as "Sleeping Beauty" until she was buried on Everest in 2007 by one of the people who had tried to help her.{{cite news |author=Neil Tweedie |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3632388/Peace-at-last-for-Sleeping-Beauty.html |title= Peace at last for Sleeping Beauty |work= The Telegraph |date=2 May 2007 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Another woman from the Americas, the Ecuadorian woman Carla Perez also summited Mount Everest in 2016 without supplementary oxygen.{{cite news |author= Mark Jenkins |url= https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/11/climbing-mount-everest-no-oxygen |title= The last frontier: the climbers conquering Mount Everest without oxygen |work=The Guardian|access-date=17 June 2016}} Perez and Arnot became the fifth and sixth women to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen. There is an ongoing discussion about the use of extra bottled oxygen in mountaineering. Also at issue is Dexamethasone (Dex), which is valuable as a lifesaver as it reduces swelling in the brain if someone comes down with high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). When American Bill Burke was interviewed for his attempt, he noted how one of his team members had overdosed on Dex, prompting a medical evacuation even as in his more recent expedition, someone had 25 doses of Dex.{{cite web |url= http://www.grindtv.com/culture/bill-burke-69-arrives-at-base-camp-before-north-route-everest-climb/ |title=Bill Burke, 69, arrives at base camp before north-route Everest climb |website=GrindTV.com |date=12 April 2011 |access-date=17 June 2016}} He also noted it was hard to argue against large supplies of Dex, due its life-saving properties against some types of altitude sickness, especially HACE.

An example of a death in which Dex was implicated was Dr. Eberhard Schaaf in 2012 on Everest. Schaaf died on descent at the south summit from altitude sickness.{{cite web |last= Billera |first=Michael |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/three-climbers-reported-dead-scaling-mount-everest-eberhard-schaaf-shriya-shah-and-song-won-bin-dead |title=Three Climbers Reported Dead Scaling Mount Everest: Eberhard Schaaf, Shriya Shah, and Song Won-bin Dead, Two Others Missing |website=IB Times |date=17 February 2010 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} It has a good reputation as a life saver, and is commonly given to Everest climbers for its ability to intervene in last desperate moments when altitude sickness sets in. For example, in the 2016 season Robert Gropel said he gave Dex to his wife (as reported by the Daily Telegraph) in attempt to save her as they tried to descend Everest.{{cite news |author=Chris Graham |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/31/it-breaks-my-heart-australian-climber-blames-himself-for-wifes-d/ |title= 'It breaks my heart': Australian climber blames himself for wife's death on Everest |work= The Daily Telegraph |date=31 May 2016 |location=London |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Dex is not the only drug that is potentially a problem, with the UIAA noting the aforementioned dexamethasone, but also acetazolamide (aka Diamox), amphetamine, and alcohol use;{{cite web |url= http://docplayer.net/5637829-Official-standards-of-the-uiaa-medical-commission-vol-22a.html |title= UIAA Official Standards of the UIAA Medical Commission VOL: 22a |publisher= Docplayer.net |access-date= 17 June 2016}} and another noted Diamox (acetazolamide) use among trekkers.{{cite web |url= http://blogs.dw.com/adventuresports/2014/10/20/well-under-drugs-is-half-way-up/ |title= Well under drugs is half way up? – Mount Everest – Adventure Sports |publisher= Blogs.dw.com |access-date= 17 June 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160901104914/http://blogs.dw.com/adventuresports/2014/10/20/well-under-drugs-is-half-way-up/ |archive-date= 1 September 2016 |df= dmy-all }} It is not really a matter of some authorities being for or against medications, but awareness, as misuse can cause drug interactions and various side effects. In particular it was noted that supplementary oxygen significantly lowers death rate on ultra-high altitude mountain climbing, and is generally not regulated as a drug, whereas the safe use of medications is less understood or even acknowledged in many cases. (see also: Effects of high altitude on humans)

{{blockquote|"We estimate that during our informal survey on Everest spring 2012, at least two-thirds of climbers we contacted were prescribed several performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and had intended to use them not for rescue, but to increase their chances of summit success"|Dr. L. Freer of Everest ER}}

Mexican-American David Liaño Gonzalez (aka David Liano) summited for the sixth time, promoting a charity and also carrying a Seattle Seahawks flag with him to the Everest summit.{{cite news|author=Bob Condotta |url= http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/climber-displays-his-seahawks-allegiance-on-the-top-of-mount-everest/ |title=Top of the world! Fan takes love of Seahawks to summit of Mount Everest |work=Seattle Times |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}}{{cite news |url= http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/1st-foreign-climbers-scale-everest-in-2-years/ |title=2 Brits, Mexican are 1st foreigners on Everest in 2 years |work=Seattle Times |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} Another sports team represented at the Everest summit was the Denver Broncos, with its flag unfurled by Kim Hess.{{cite web |author= Liz Gelardi |url= http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-woman-checks-mount-everest-off-list-on-quest-to-climb-seven-summits |title= Colorado woman checks Mount Everest off list on quest to climb "seven summits" |website= Thedenverchannel.com |date=6 June 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Rounding out US mountaineering was news that a group of soldiers and veterans summited, including some who had been wounded in combat.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/24/health/usx-veteran-soldiers-summit-everest/|title=Active-duty U.S. soldiers, veteran summit Everest|author=Ashley Strickland|website=cnn.com|date=24 May 2016|access-date=23 October 2017}} A British wounded veteran (one-eyed) was also trying to summit but gave up his bid to help some Indian climbers.

In 2016 the first climbers from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Tunisia reached the summit of Mount Everest.{{cite web | url = https://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south16.shtml#Top | publisher = International Mountain Guides |title = 2016 Everest Expedition Nepal |access-date = 20 May 2016}}{{cite web |url= http://mizzima.com/news-domestic/myanmar-climbers-reach-everest-summit-country-first|title=Myanmar climbers reach Everest summit in country first |last= Mizzima |date=20 May 2016 |website= Mizzima |access-date= 25 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2014/12/19/for-the-first-time-tunisian-climber-reaches-everest-peak_e5be7fbc-b46d-4e52-9b19-a2a1e43c2f69.html |title= For the first time Tunisian climber reaches Everest peak |publisher= Ansamed.info |date=19 December 2014 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Only two other people from North Africa have summited Everest, one from Algeria and the other from Morocco. The youngest Australian woman to summit Mount Everest was Alyssa Azar.{{cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-07/teen-alyssa-azar-welcomed-home-toowoomba-after-mt-everest-climb/7484184 |title= Alyssa Azar welcomed home at Toowoomba after climbing Mount Everest |work= ABC News |date=7 June 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} She returned to Australia safely, but a bittersweet victory for Australia after the loss of another Australian woman who was also trying to summit that May with her husband. The youngest Japanese woman also summited (and returned alive) at the age of 19. Another woman record-breaker in 2016 was the first woman from Thailand to summit Mount Everest, Napassaporn Chumnarnsit, who was granted an audience with the Prime Minister of Thailand for her achievement.{{cite web |url= http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/921892-1st-thai-mount-everest-woman-summiter-meets-pm-prayut/ |title= 1st Thai Mount Everest woman summiter meets PM Prayut |website= Thaivisa.com |access-date= 17 June 2016}}{{cite web |url= http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/05/23/first-thai-woman-conquers-mount-everest-today |title= First Thai woman conquers Mount Everest today | Coconuts Bangkok |publisher=Bangkok.coconuts.co |date= 23 May 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} The first person with cystic fibrosis also summited Mount Everest on his third try.{{cite news |author1= Harry Yorke |author2= Sophie Jamieson |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/17/british-man-becomes-first-person-with-cystic-fibrosis-to-climb-e/ |title= British man becomes first person with cystic fibrosis to climb Everest |work= The Telegraph |date=17 May 2016 |access-date= 17 June 2016}} Also, a 61-year-old summited with two artificial knees.{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656050/How-a-61-year-old-Utah-man-made-history-by-summiting-Everest-with-two-artificial-knees.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617022627/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656050/How-a-61-year-old-Utah-man-made-history-by-summiting-Everest-with-two-artificial-knees.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2016|title=How a 61-year-old Utah man made history by summiting Everest with two artificial knees|first=Amy|last=Donaldson|date=11 June 2016|website=Deseret News|access-date=23 October 2017}} He had been trying for several years and had lost his Nepali friend Sherpa Nawang Tenzing in the 2015 earthquakes. He was not alone in being grief-stricken, as many climbers connected with the Everest mountaineering community lost climbing buddies in two years of disasters.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kuntal-joisher/a-lifes-dream-complete-co_b_10344586.html|title=A Life's Dream Complete: Conquering Mount Everest|first=Kuntal|last=Joisher|date=8 June 2016|website=huffingtonpost.com|access-date=23 October 2017}} One who narrowly survived the disasters himself climbed this year to bring attention to the disease Lewy body dementia (DLB), which had affected his father.

On 11 May 2016 a Calgary physician died in Tibet, in the Chinese-side base camp.{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/vancouversun/obituary.aspx?pid=180046324 |title=Charles MacAdams Obituary|work=Vancouver Sun|access-date=17 June 2016}} A 25-year-old Nepali named Phurba Sherpa, fixing lines near the Lhotse summit, fell to his death.{{cite web|url=http://fox13now.com/2016/05/22/3-climbers-die-in-3-days-on-mount-everest/ |title=3 climbers die in 3 days on Mount Everest |website=fox13now.com |date=22 May 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} A guide company, Arnold Coster Expeditions, suffered two fatalities, and a third client had to be airlifted out.{{cite news|author=Andrew Marszal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/25/mount-everest-climbers-death-toll-rises-to-five/ |title=Mount Everest climbers: Death toll rises to five |work=The Telegraph|date=25 May 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} One was a man from the Netherlands, and another was a South African-born Australian woman. Her husband had tried to save her, but he also ran into trouble and had to be airlifted out with medical complications. These deaths were very widely reported in international news and triggered some public discussion about Everest mountaineering and tourism.

An Indian expedition from West Bengal suffered three fatalities and a fourth member, Sunita Hazra had to be rescued on her way down. The team was led by a South Korean climber named Jinchol Cha, and had four Indian Bengalis: Subhash Pal, Goutam Ghosh, Paresh Nath and Sunita Hazra (female, 38) with Loben Sherpa accompanying them. The team, managed by Trekking Camp Nepal, had attempted to climb the peak on 21 May.

While climbing up, Paresh and Goutam became sick near Camp IV and could neither ascend nor descend from the higher camps near 8,000 metres. Lakpa Sherpa and Subhash Pal, the Indian mountaineer, from Bankura, West Bengal continued climbing and reached the summit of Mount Everest on Saturday, 21 May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-climber-3rd-to-die-on-mount-everest-in-recent-days-1409004|title=Indian Mountaineer Subhash Pal Dies, 2 Others Missing On Mount Everest|date=23 May 2016|work=NDTV.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36355920|title=Mount Everest: Altitude sickness claims third death in three days|date=23 May 2016|work=BBC.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/05/mount-everest-six-dead-families-mourn-indian-climbers|title=Mount Everest: total of six dead as families mourn Indian climbers|date=5 June 2016|work=theguardian.com}} On 22 May 2016, Pal collapsed while descending the Hillary Step ice wall. He died in the region between Camp IV and Camp III,{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamwanderlust.com/articles/an-avoidable-tragedy-everest-spring-2016-20160112|title=An Avoidable Tragedy|date=25 November 2018}} due to frostbite which later led to hypothermia.{{Cite web|url=https://theyouthmagazine.com/indian-climber-subhash-pal-dies-on-expedition-to-mount-everest-2-others-missing/|title=Indian climber 'Subhash Pal' dies on expedition to Mount Everest, 2 others missing!|website=theyouthmagazine.com|language=en-US|access-date=19 April 2017}} While descending from the summit, Sherpa found both Paresh and Goutam dead near Camp IV.{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/rescuers-bring-indian-climbers-body-everest|title=Rescuers bring Indian climber's body from Everest|date=30 May 2016|work=thehimalayantimes.com}} After reaching near Camp III, Subhash was unable to speak or move due to altitude sickness. The team tried to save him but could not.

A British climber Leslie Binns gave up his summit bid to help and rescue Sunita who had fallen and was ailing on her descent.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36437937 |title=Briton Leslie Binns abandons Everest peak to save fellow climber|work=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/metres-away-from-mt-everest-summit-briton-turns-around-to-save-bengali-woman/story-vMt8HnWKQcFNCYewyVSg0K.html |title=Metres away from Mt Everest summit, Briton turns around to save Bengali woman|work=Hindustan Times |date=2 June 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} The climber successfully rescued her and tried to save another from her expedition team. With the help of four climbers, Sunita was rescued. Their stock of bottled oxygen was running out, so they quickly descended to Camp II, saving Sunita's life. She was airlifted from Camp II the next day by the Himalayan Rescue Association to Kathmandu with severe frostbite injuries.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/sunita-missing-survivor-everest-kolkatas-frostbitten-plans-her-next-climb-2825004/ |title=Back from Everest, Kolkata's frostbitten survivor plans her next climb |website=The Indian Express |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}} Sunita was treated at Norvic International Hospital. She lost two fingers due to frostbite.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

Six Sherpas stayed in the region for five days to search for and rescue the missing climbers. They retrieved Subhash's body and returned. Paresh's and Goutam's bodies remained on the mountain and could not be retrieved until the following climbing season, in late May 2017, due to bad weather.{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=John |date=2017-12-18 |title=Deliverance From 27,000 Feet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/18/sports/everest-deaths.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/18/sports/everest-deaths.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

They were part of a larger eleven-member expedition from India. Eight had reached the summit, including the injured woman, Hazra. However, according to a detailed report on the Indian expedition in the New York Times, the Nepalese government is not counting Hazra's climb as a successful summit due to a credible lack of evidence.

The death toll for Everest climbers rose to five in most reports by late May 2016, and with a death of a high-altitude worker on Lhotse face during the season (Everest summiters sometimes need to climb Lhotse face depending on the route), gave a total of six known deaths from the Everest massif by the time the season drew to a close. Although not widely reported during May, a climber in Tibet had died on 11 May 2016 which makes it possibly six for Mount Everest and seven for the Everest Massif. The Nepal ministry of tourism said five people died (on the Nepali side).

{{Reflist}}

{{Mount Everest}}

2016

Category:2016 in Nepal