Climbing Everest Without Oxygen
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Questions and Answers

What percentage of climbers reaches the summit of Everest without using bottled oxygen?

  • 3% (correct)
  • 10%
  • 25%
  • 1%
  • What challenge does Ed Viesturs describe when climbing without oxygen?

  • The extreme cold makes climbing impossible.
  • There are too many climbers on the route.
  • Each step requires excessive breaths. (correct)
  • The gear used is too heavy to carry.
  • Who were the first climbers to summit Everest without supplementary oxygen?

  • Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler (correct)
  • Peter Hackett and Ed Viesturs
  • Ed Viesturs and Reinhold Messner
  • Cory Richards and Adrian Ballinger
  • What happens to the human body at extreme altitudes without adequate oxygen?

    <p>It begins to shut down and deteriorate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the oxygen intake at the summit of Everest compare to sea level?

    <p>It is less than a third of that at sea level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the condition caused by a lack of oxygen in the body?

    <p>Hypoxia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What psychological effects can occur due to low oxygen levels at high altitudes?

    <p>Hallucinations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What reason do some climbers give for choosing to ascend Everest without supplemental oxygen?

    <p>To climb the mountain under its terms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the blood as the body reacts to hypoxia?

    <p>It thickens due to increased red blood cell production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant risk is mentioned for climbers who experience hypoxia?

    <p>Permanent brain damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Climbing Everest Without Oxygen

    • Everest is extremely difficult without supplemental oxygen.
    • At high altitudes, oxygen is scarce, requiring 15 breaths per step.
    • Ed Viesturs, a notable climber, documented the challenges.
    • He reached the summit of all 14 8,000-meter peaks without oxygen.
    • He described the struggle of altitude sickness and difficulty breathing.
    • Lack of oxygen is a life-threatening condition at high altitudes.
    • Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) causes breathing to quicken.
    • Physical tasks become noticeably harder.
    • Appetite drops, making it hard to stay nourished.
    • Dehydration is also a frequent concern.
    • Blood thickens, leading to a higher risk of frostbite.
    • Decision-making, sleep, and judgment are impaired.
    • Hallucinations and risky behavior are possible symptoms.
    • Other climbers have even died from this experience.
    • Only a few climbers attempt this challenge.

    Climbing without Oxygen - a Fine Line

    • Very few (3 out of 100) climbers attempt to summit without bottled oxygen.
    • Achieving the peak is an extraordinarily physically taxing endeavor.
    • The experience is dangerous.
    • Several have died in the attempt.
    • Significant risks are associated, including permanent brain injury or death.
    • One climber, Reinhold Messner, and another, Peter Habeler, were early successful summiters without oxygen, in 1978.
    • Scientists quantify the experience as more like climbing a lower mountain.
    • Specific climbers chose the challenge to assert their skill and willingness to face mortality in the process..
    • One climber used a tent to simulate the thin-air conditions at altitude.

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    Description

    Explore the extreme challenges of climbing Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. This quiz covers the physiological effects of high altitude, including hypoxia, and the risks faced by climbers like Ed Viesturs. Learn about the unique experiences surrounding this life-threatening endeavor.

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