Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Naked on Mount Everest

Someone sent me this link today: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcb_china/20070926/wl_mcb_china/gettingnakedonmounteverest

Authorities are fed up with mountaineers disrobing on Mount Everest for stunt photos.


According to a little blurb today in the China Daily, authorities in Nepal are taking measures to put an end to “disrespectful” stunts on the 29,035-foot mountain, the world’s highest.


“People taking their clothes off and so on – these kinds of things we are going to stop,” Ang Tsering Sherpa, the head of Nepal’s official mountaineering body, which issues climbing permits, told reporters.


Earlier this year, a climber outraged authorities when he stood naked for several minutes on the summit of Mount Everest.


Seems like standing bare on the top of the world’s highest mountain, a frigid place, would be punishment enough.

I'd like to see the guy try to explain the frost bite.

I don't see that nudity is inherently that "disrespectful", but then again it sounds like the summit is always fairly crowded during the time windows when it is climbed. I can understand why some people may not want to summit to be greeted by a naked guy,so their proposed ban is perhaps not that outrageous.

Of course they can't prevent people from disrobing up there, but I guess they can fine them when they get down, which would discourage the practice.

It has more to do with their religious beliefs. Nudity and especially sex on the mountain are an offense to the gods who dwell there.

I've also mentioned in the past that I was chastised by my wife for relieving myself "near" the summit of a mountain in Thailand. All of these activities are considered improper in the presence of god.

Although I believe that one of the individuals to pull this stunt this last climbing season was Sherpa, I have to think that this is another example of primarily western or western-influenced people following their own agendas or adrenaline fueled (some would say stupidity fueled) fantasies without regards to cultural mores and sensitivities of the countries they are visiting. Unfortunately a few people have the capability to paint a whole group in a negative light. Is it any surprise that countries like Bhutan have only recently opened their borders to climbers and trekkers? This is something that is constantly preached in books and by trekking agencies. Unfortunately there will always be a few yahoos who will diregard this advice. I remember Conrad Anker giving a talk here in San Diego a few years ago and mentioning this as a problem while pleading for people to really make an effort to understand the culture of the place they are visiting.

I might be a little embarrassed by this too........This might be the reason for the problems. That's mighty cold to be naked.

Have a listen to:

http://outside.away.com/mediaplayer/application.html?uniqueid=a07021&page=popup

Kevin Fedarko mentions this in his article on spending time at Everest Base Camp.

I agree..I read a bunch of books..studied the history and culture..I even talked to a couple from the region..but still, I never really did feel like I understood those people in the Los Angeles area....



Chris

No one understands them Chris.

Dale B. Dalrymple
http://dbdimages.com

Yeah, I don't get them either... That's why I'm moving...

Hey Snail,

Thanks for that post. What a great narrative.

I will be listening to this more than once just to absorb more of the honest realities of this man's perspective.

Really what idiots, I can't understand why anyone would have the urge to get naked on top of a mountain.

So, I just thought I'd share a picture I took on my first summit of Whitney a few years ago.

Sorry if I offend anyone, especially the mountain gods.

I guess I'm always at the wrong place at the wrong time!

Forgive me, but this sounds like yet another urban myth.

Even in perfect weather, isn't the summit of Everest, at 29,000' a place where if you remove your gloves, you pretty much get "instant" frost bite? I mean, what's the warmest it could ever get there?

I really can't see one taking the time and effort to remove one's clothes under those circumstances! Not to mention the likelyhood of wind blowing them off the summit at a moments notice once they were off, thereby signing one's own death warrant.

Whoa, Nellie! Save a horse, ride a... ah, well, back to the regularly scheduled programming...

They surf naked down at Trail 6 at San Onofre in San Clemente all the time....although it is allowed there it is reall creepy to see dudes wearing a rash guard, cruising down the line with there johnson's hanging out....oh well...to each his own.

Hi Not quite naked ,failed to remove socks.Thanks Doug

These guys are:

And a much more important piece of news out of Nepal this week is that it is almost certain that the Monarchy will be abolished.

This provides one less reason for the splinter groups of Maoists to rebel any more.

And, an Oh by the way, at least one of the people pictured above posts to this board.

And, oh by the way 2, Steve can delete that at any time.

I wish Charlize Theron or Scarlett Johansson would climb in Nepal too then...