All The Ways Mt. Everest Can Kill You | WIRED

Mt. Everest is a famously inhospitable environment for humans—if someone from sea level was dropped at the very top they’d be unconscious within minutes. Many dangers await those brave enough to make an attempt at the summit, and Dr. Emily Johnston visits WIRED to break down each and every way Mt. Everest can prove fatal.

Director: Wendi Jonassen
Director of Photography: Dylan Bergeson
Editor: Edward Simpson Jr.
Expert: Dr. Emily Johnston
Creative Producer: Katherine Wzorek
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Kameryn Hamilton
Production Manager: D. Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Special Thanks: Elia Saikaly and Climbing the Seven Summits


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[justayoutuber]

This is definitely on my check list of things never to do.

[stephandesme]

A doctor and an established mountaineer? Mad impressive

[SOOKIE]

Honestly climbing Everest should be restricted to people who have done multiple other challenging summits first. Right now it's basically a tourist attraction where a bunch of rich people underpay local people to carry all their stuff, lead them, test all the crossings and paths first, cook their food, pitch their camp, etc. Exploited sherpas are die way too often essentially carrying tourists up the mountain like greek gods. You shouldn't get the privilege of climbing it or K2 until you've proven yourself as a solo mountaineer.

[flux.aeterna]

I’ve watched countless documentaries on Everest, both on YouTube and studio productions, and this is the FIRST expert I’ve heard talk about the nuts and bolts of the medical changes in the body caused by climbing Everest and the public health risks at base camps!! Absolutely fascinating. More of her please!

[LeahBandB]

This year, I successfully did not scale Everest. I am deeply proud of this accomplishment and have high hopes of being able to repeat it next year.

[peterdfarr]

This is probably one of the best interviews I have ever seen, Wired or otherwise. Well-shot, well-cut, well-produced, with a highly articulate and knowledgeable subject. Major props to all involved!

[jenniferj.]

"You can't just leave someone in one of these bags or they'd suffocate. Let's give it a try!" 💀💀💀

[RalphBellairs]

I could listen to this lady talk all day long. More Dr. Emily please! 🙂

[voldemortified]

She’s fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable.

[westendlawn]

All of the dead bodies along the top of Mt Everest were once highly motivated individuals.

[agilebeast]

The elevation of these mountains is mind boggling. I hiked Mt Whitney, at around 13k ft I was taking a break every 15 steps. I can’t imagine 29, 000ft even with supplemental.

[lavendervvitch]

When I was a kid, I went through a phase where I was really into Mount Everest, and I started reading tons of books about it. I read the “Everest” trilogy by Gordon Korman, in which a group of kids(!) attempt to make the summit. The main kid gets high-altitude pulmonary edema, and one of the kids sits down and never gets back up. It was very graphic and scary but also educational. Now I’m very content with never attempting that climb 😅 I’m much more of a hiker than a climber anyway.

[mon]

I wish this video was longer, she is so brilliant and cool

[kieranryder-lewis]

Not many may have picked up but that model of the mountains she points to was a great idea especially in that detail

[xglosis]

Everest should be a restricted climb. You should have to meet several stringent qualifications. It’s disgusting how filthy the mountain is simply because people can pay to gamble with their lives. I have absolutely no desire to do this. This woman is absolutely amazing though, what a badass and what an amazing life she has led!

[jediguy]

Got a chuckle at, “Not compatible with life.”

Make no mistake, it’s horrifying. But to hear it stated like that got me.

[JackDespero]

The fact that they use cadavers like Green Boots (which apparently was moved in 2014) to signal camp locations and landmarks for routes tells you all you need to know about the death zone of Mt Everest.

[Hannah-dojl]

Gosh nobody does interviews as well as wired does. They get the right people they have them tell the right things and their graphics are just enthralling it holds your attention so easily. Kudos to everyone on this wired team

[bouncecat]

Dr. Johnston has incredible charisma and matter of fact way of sharing the most mind blowing things. I hope she guest stars on some podcasts soon, i would love to hear more of her stories, experiences and life shares.

[pnwmeditations]

Not that I was planning to summit Everest, but the fact that the reduced air pressure can cause your brain to swell and push on your brain stem .... yeah, absolutely never doing that.