#167 Everest Incorporated with Will Cockrell

The By Land Podcast

Text the show!

Will Cockrell joins the podcast to discuss his recently published book detailing the history of Mount Everest, his perspective on the draw of mountaineering, and the connection between suffering and achievement.

Will also explains the need to tell the full story of Everest, as well as the misconceptions and negative narratives surrounding the mountain. He challenges the idea of who deserves to climb Everest and questions the romanticism and judgment associated with mountaineering. Our conversation covers various themes related to climbing Everest, including the issue of discounting different approaches, the individualized nature of climbing, the perspective of seasoned climbers, the perception of Everest as spoiled, the reality of the Sherpa role, the misunderstanding of the Sherpa culture, the monetization of Everest, and the importance of seeking the whole Everest story.

Will shares insights from his book, reflecting on the state of the industry and the motivations of climbers and explores the relationship between Western climbers and Sherpas, highlighting the positive changes in recent years. Finally, we dive into the challenges of waste management and the future of Everest, emphasizing the importance of stewardship and the understanding of different perspectives.
Show Notes and Links

• Introductions
• Early Years and Pursuit of Guiding
• Specializing in Mo
• The Draw of Mountaineering
• The Connection Between Suffering and Achievement
• The Comfort of the Wilderness
• The Need for a Book on Guiding on Everest
• The Counter Narrative to the Negative Perception of Everest
• Questioning Who Deserves to Be on Everest
• The Romanticism and Judgment of Mountaineering
• The Perception of Crowding on Everest
• The Difficulty of Defining Who Deserves to Climb Everest
• The Individualized Nature of Climbing Everest
• The Perspective of Seasoned Everest Climbers
• The Reality of the Sherpa Role
• The Monetization of Everest
• The Importance of Seeking the Whole Story
• Reflections on the Everest Industry
• The State of the Everest Industry
• The Impact of Tourism on Everest
• The Experience at Everest Base Camp
• The Dilemma of Camp 4
• Balancing Conservation and Access
• The Future of Everest
• Will's book

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Chapters

1. Mount Everest History With Will Cockrell (00:00:00)

2. Exploring the Draw of Mountaineering (00:09:15)

3. Mountaineering and Everest Narratives (00:15:40)

4. Critiquing Mountaineering Culture and Misconceptions (00:27:08)

5. Exploring the Ethics of Mountaineering (00:32:07)

6. Ethical Concerns on Everest Overuse (00:41:38)