The highest mountain I have climbed is Mt. Whitney (14,494 ft), while the hardest mountain I have climbed is Mt. Shasta (14,179 ft). Both are trivial in the comparative scheme of peak climbing. Indeed, Whitney has a wide trail to the summit and is so popular you must reserve your wilderness permit far in advance. Shasta is a bit more of a challenge since an ascent must cross snow and ice (and the route I followed with a snow and ice climbing class was up the Hotlum Glacier on the north side of the mountain). Still, the Shasta summit is often crowded.
Mt. Everest, of course, is the king of summits. It too has become crowded, relatively speaking. Reportedly, 600 people summited this spring, so it’s become an adventurer’s tourist spot. A recent statistical study showed that climbers over 60 were 3 times more likely to die on the mountain than the overall death rate. That is, 5% of the over 60 crowd don’t return. Now, of course, any 60 year old who tries to climb Everest is in suberb physical condition. Still, it’s the pits getting old. Statistics don’t lie!
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