Will Cockrell

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Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World by Will Cockrell chronicles the history of the tourism industry on Mt. Everest. Mr. Cockrell is a published published writer, mostly for outdoor and adventure magazines.

This was a very interesting, and informative book, shattering some cliches which have been around for decades. The industry around Mt. Everest has blossomed since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered the 29,032 foot mountain.

Since then, almost 12,000 people have summited Mr. Everest, according to the author. Many of these have paid six-figure fees, lived in luxury in a huge tent city in base camp, used pre-fixed ropes, and had a personal guide push/pull them to the top. Nevertheless, Everest, Inc. by Will Cockrell does not minimize the effort and mental fortitude it takes regardless of the help.
Frankly, if I had the money I’d go as well, and am still thinking I should have gone decades ago when the trip was less expensive.

The man mostly responsible for the industry is Dick Bass. A rich Texan who threw a lot of money into submitting the seven highest peaks on each continent. Once “Large Mouth Bass” started telling his amazing story, climbing the mountain captured the public’s imagination.

The famous 1996 accident, covered exhaustively in the media, and chronicled in Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air has been a boon to the Everest guiding industry. The possibility of death and danger lit people’s imagination and boosted the whole business.

Mr. Cockrell believes that commercializing Everest is a good thing, the top five guiding companies are Nepalese. It still takes weeks of effort, is still dangerous, and provides an honorable living to many people, lifting them up from poverty. Not to mention, a profound, personal experience.

I really enjoyed reading the book, it’s well researched but I don’t think it was even handed. There are deep questions, mostly philosophical, which I felt were unanswered or skipped over.… (mehr)