The answer is: funding.
Those involved in this project have done an amazing job of doing what is needed to be done: create tremendous interest in this whole thing, so that they can get people to give them funding to climb the mountain again. But don't call me cynical.
I think it is a fascinating case study in how to create a living in doing something that otherwise would almost certainly not provide one.
I bring all this up, as it is easy to get caught up in this, without realizing it.
I was involved in a discussion with a couple of guys I know that have both been up Everest a bunch of times, Viesturs and Breashears. Both think no. Breashears has made eight expeditions to Everest, five successful, and is known in climbing circles for free climbing some of the most technically challenging rock walls in Colorado as a young man.
The issue is the technical nature of the climb, which was beyond anything done at sea level at the time, combined with altitude which had never been experienced before, combined with people who were not renowned for their rock climbing abilities, the exact skill needed.
