K2 mountain fcukwittery

I think that is extremely harsh although there may be truth that they shouldnt have been there and that the companies leading such expeditions should have much more stringent criteria

darwinism in action is a very unpleasant comment to make about it

Really? Oh well - not nearly as harsh as the environment up K2 though...

Edited to add report and a bit more context:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7539543.stm

"The fatality rate for those who reach the summit at 27% is about three times higher than that for Mount Everest. "

Sorry but I think climbing that environment without ensuring you have the best possible survival and mountaineering skills IS Darwinism in action - survival of the fittest and luckiest.

I got the impression that the area where the ropes had been damaged was one that was very difficult and dangerous even for very experienced mountaineers... hence there being permanent fixed ropes there so there wasn't the entire setting up process for each group. I imagine they are unable to get down due to the damage in an already almost impossible area.

Whilst I agree with your comments about tour companies offering trips to any person regardless of ability and skill.... some comments above dont sit comfortably with me bearing in mind many lifes may be lost and many families affected by this.

Anybody else a regular reader of "After Him" by Samantha Warwick in Grazia? ☹️

OK so there are people "stuck" up K2, but surely there must be something that could be done to assist them getting back down safely?

Sorry Zebra but I do think you're being a bit harsh. There's nothing in that BBC article that implies these people don't know how to climb...just they can't climb down from their current position as the fixed ropes are gone. It does say they're hoping to try the other side of the mountain.

I think considering some people have just died in that avalanche and there may well be more fatalities that this is a bit insensitive.

There was an interview on BBCNew 24 saying so.

Zebra, not only is your OP ridiculously harsh, its also really bloody insensitive. Darwinsim? I saw the news earlier which said that at least 12 people had died this weekend on K2 as a result of faling ice. There was an interview with a pakistani guide who stated that some of the people there did not know how to react in an emergency. nothing about what youre talking about. Plus, its just so damn crass of you to say "darwinism". people are dead FFS.

and FYI - "survival of the fittest" is nothing to do with actually being fit, its about the best gene pool and a species surviving, not individuals, and since you have a science background, i thought you d have known that.

In short, your post is thoughtless, crass , insensitive and offensive.

Darwinism = survival of the species - survival of fittest & strongest continues the gene pool.

There are the darwin awards every year on the internet for people who have "enhanced" the gene pool by removing themselves from it by killing themselves accidentally in monumentally stupid ways.

I think this is what Zebra is referring to.