E q a 30)c (g .o = IJJz -o @ c{ Fj r-{ C'= fl >(o aDANGER ON HIGH N n 1996, Mount Everest was the scene of one of the worst climbing disasters $ in history.</p><p> Bizarrely, that only spurred more climbers and thrill-seekers $ into tacklinO the world's highest peak.</p><p> Now a mountain of cash has turned S Everest into a scene of prostihrtion, drug use, petty theft, murderous rages, unscrupulous guides, clueless climbers who endanger not only their own lives but also others, and more.</p><p> The slopesare so crowded that climbers must walk past the dead and dying - sometimes out of callousness, sometimes because they have no choice and can barely save themselves.</p><p> Climber and joumalist Michael Kodas demystifies Everest and tells of the dangers he faced when attempting to summit himself in his new book "High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed" (Hyperion; $24.95). dinfing Mount Arercstb usnlys€en as a nobb, wen qtftit|al enedence.</p><p> You rcaly shdterthd irnage ry showhg fte impact of tre dn$ers on the fttpoved$ed peopteftafl Ifiue fterqfte brutal and nasty indfi&tg that da$es manyharrcand fte Wld West laftrsness thd donin#. lttlK:lt's myth-busting.</p><p> So much that comes off the mountain is exaggeration at best. lt's like the celebrity journalism that surrounds athletes now except ifs in a location so remote you're unlikely to be able to puncture anything they want to, say.</p><p> One rcafy inpodan[ pdnt yur nde b drd drb isrftistasbry d'mnocent dimbers being talten adtartage dBthgn In a hof cases,tis babo abqn'meryedenced dnters rvlp thftrkthey can smnrt Arcrcst m lhe drcap - n(e your'bam in ZXl4 - ard dodt tate rcsponsfu-ty for AtitU so strly or bdrcrb dpdr the qedenliab d people dret/re enEuslirU wilh thefo fves.ffi*N MJC: lwas blinded by this, too.</p><p> You get an opportunity to be a part of an expedition to Everest and you put the blinders on and don't want to look at it too closely because you're afraid you're going to lose this chance.</p><p> Some people spend more time and diligence looking into the background of the person who is going to paint their house than the person they're going to be tied to on Mount Everest.</p><p> A pcfliue rciliflof your boohh Outside nngaane condrded $d Ernrcst b now a place'hry sarc peron wurld auolL Yetyou went bad( in A106and tsid and failed b stlnnit agnftr Ulfa yon go badc? MlC: I've said never. but as to whether that will stick I can't say.</p><p> Michael GilE,N r \N t;;; The Fate of Arcrest in an Age of crced Michael Kodas Hyperion, $24.95
