Everest

I've clearly missed something. Coles notes on this

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/04/everest-sherpas-death-and-anger.html

Good, up to date, summary:

http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2014/04/24/everest-2014-offically-closed-big-picture/

The closure only affects ascents from Nepal, teams are still climbing the northeast ridge from Tibet.

National Geographic photographers having a fundraiser for the affected families of the Sherpas, buy a print for $100 and all the proceeds go to the cause. Some great pictures here:

http://www.sherpasfund.org/

So when one obtains one of these sherpas do they come pre-equipped with all the latest gear or are they more just going with the bare minimum and carrying all your crap?

They would have their own gear, or be equipped by the expedition that hires them.

Good read….

http://grist.org/climate-energy/how-climate-change-makes-everest-an-even-deadlier-game/

Does this mean that K2 has lost it's place as the world's deadliest mountain?

Nope, that's Annapurna.

Which is interestingly the first 8,000m peak to be scaled, and it was also the first (and only?) 8,000m peak to be scaled on the first expedition.

If you're interested in mountain climbing, a great book to read is "Annapurna". It's written by the expedition leader Maurice Herzog, great book.