Fight Breaks Out on Everest over Weekend: 100 Sherpas vs. 3 Europeans @ 23,000 Ft

Mount Everest. photo: Simone Moro
Mount Everest.  photo:  Simone Moro
Mount Everest. photo: Simone Moro

Reports are coming down from Mt. Everest today about a fight breaking between 100 sherpas and 3 Europeans broke out over the weekend. ย Apparently Uli Steck (Swiss speed climber), Simone Moro, and Johnathan Griffith got into a fight with around 100 Sherpas that involved kicking, punching, and rock throwing.

Here is a quick summary of the events:

“While the Sherpas were fixing ropes up to Camp III, the alpine team stepped over their ropes. The Sherpas said Steck or Griffith had kicked ice down on a member of their team. (Moro said in the report this was unlikely.) A confrontation ensued between the alpine team and a lead Sherpa, with the Sherpas descending to Camp II as a sign of protest. Steck helped fix ropes to Camp III as a sign of goodwill after the Sherpas left. When Steck, Moro, and Griffith descended to Camp II, a group of 100 Sherpas confronted them, and then kicked, punched, and threw rocks at them. A group of Western climbers stepped in and broke up the fight.” – Outside Magazine

Read full report of Everest fight here: ย Simone Moro Everest blog

Here is a completely different version of the story from CNN: ย Everest Fight

Climbing route on Everest
Climbing route on Everest summit day

3 Sherpas have reportedly left the mountain as part of an investigation. ย There are some reporting that a climber from Switzerland has left the mountain and will be flying home. ย We donโ€™t know if anyone sustained injuries in the encounter.

We arenโ€™t really sure what to make of this just yet so we are going to avoid weighing in on the topic. ย An interesting story, for sure. ย Weโ€™re pretty confident that as details get cleared up with time, weโ€™ll be receiving reports of a much different story.

Tensions have definitely been greatly raised on Everest in recent years as there are no limits on climbing permits and summit days have gotten very crowded. Last season was one of the deadliest seasons on record at Mt. Everest with 10 deathsย due to crowding at bottlenecks on summit day.

learn more:

10 Interesting Facts About Everest

Mt Everest and Lhotse
Mt Everest and Lhotse
graphic from May 25th, 2012.  click to enlarge.
graphic from May 25th, 2012. click to enlarge.

 

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