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By Doug Sovern
Date: May 14, 2000
I have reconfirmed those six deaths with both a Mountain Madness
official and the guy on the mountain representing the Nepalese Tourism
Ministry. I am not surprised you can't find any record of them from
that end. There won't be any. Remember, we are in an extremely remote
region of a Third World country. We are 80 miles from the nearest
road. There are no street addresses in all of Nepal, not a single
stop sign, street sign or traffic light. They do not have a coroner.
They do not do death certificates. If a local person dies, they
are cremated and thrown in the river. If ANYONE dies on the mountain,
local or foreign, their body is left exactly where it falls and
can never be touched or moved. If a CLIMBER dies on Everest, there
IS a record of it, and it will be widely reported, on the various
web sites, etc. However, if a trekker or porter dies on the way
to or from Base Camp, which is the case here, it is pretty much
shrugged off, and in fact, may not even be acknowledged by anyone
at Base Camp or above. When I asked the ministry official if six
was a high number, he shrugged and said "this is normal. this happens
always." Others tell me it is a little higher than average, though.
Anyway, four trekkers and two porters have died here this year,
and of this I am certain. I talked with a woman who watched one
of the porters die. I talked with the doctor who tried to save two
of the trekkers. I have personally witnessed three emergency air
evac rescues. Rest assured I am not reporting anything I can't 100%
confirm! Having an incredible trip, which is almost over... Heading
down the mountain....Doug
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