'Not following traditional climbing methods leads to mishaps'

Two-time Mt Everest conqueror Santosh Yadav feels that modern day climbers are not following the traditional methods of climbing which is leading to the rising number of accidents in the mountains.

"Climbers these days are not following the traditional ways of climbing and that is why we are seeing so many accidents and failed Mt Everest expeditions," Yadav, the first woman to climb the highest peak on earth twice, said here today.

"There are certain traditional methods to climb Mt Everest. One must have the experience of scaling 7,000-8,000 feet before attempting to climb 29,000 feet. But, climbers these days are in a hurry to do that without proper experience. They are paying the companies a huge amount of money to take them to the top peak," she told reporters.
 

"The climbers are not opening the routes themselves but the companies are doing it for them. They must open the routes themselves," said the Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee.

She also condemned the "commercialisation" of Everest expeditions.

Yadav first climbed the highest summit in 1992 and then, again in 1993. She is also the first woman to climb Mt Everest from the Kangshung face.

Recollecting her climbing days, Yadav said climbers used to walk to the base camp and ferry the load from one camp to another to push their fitness level up.

She said these days, climbers reach the base camp either by helicopter or by other ways. They take the help of sherpas to carry their loads. Thus, they do not get enough time for acclimatisation and do not do much to maintain their fitness level.

Climbers should also form teams and train together for a better understanding among themselves, she said.

"These days, climbers reach the base camp individually and then, the company puts them in a team where they hardly know each other. You need to have a good team equipped with the best communication systems," she said.

Yadav also alleged that some mountaineering institutes were training children aged 12-13 years, though the "medical eligibility of a climber intending to prepare for a Mt Everest expedition is 17 years".