Now we are hearing the “Fight on Everest” story from the horse’s mouth. Uli Steck, the Swiss climber who was violently attacked by a mob of 100 Sherpas, has been interviewed by Outside Magazine. All 3 professional European climbers involved in this Everest Fight (Ueli Steck, Jon Griffith, Simone Moro) are going home without attempting the summit of Everest.
This interview is obviously very one sided. After hearing Ueli’s version of the story, we definitely need to hear the Sherpas’ side of the story.
You’ve gotta read this interview by Outside Magazine. Here’s a couple excerpts from the interview:
Outside Magazine “Brawl on Everest: Ueli Steck Story” Excerpts:
What did happen?
They had big rocks and I think the leader was in front. I went to say something but couldn’t because I got punched in the face and hit in the head with a rock. – Ueli Steck
What was your reaction?
When I got punched, I was like, fuck, do I fight back? But with 100 people, if you fight back it will make it worse. I just hoped they wouldn’t punch too hard. But when you get hit with a rock, you know they’re just trying to kill you. – Ueli Steck
How did this go from 17 Sherpas to 100? Were they all at Camp 2?
Yes, and this is exactly the point that is really scary. There was absolutely no control. Imagine 17 people, talking some bullshit, I don’t know what they told them, but in two hours there are 100 people trying to kill three people. This is insane and totally unacceptable. – Ueli Steck
Outside Magazine’s Detailed Interview with Ueli Steck Covers:
– The days of tension leading up to the fight
– The events the occurred that spurred the fight
– The fight details themselves
– Who was trying to stop the fight and what happened to them (rock to the head)
– The “Peace Treaty” signed by all parties afterwards
– The aftermath of the fight on Everest
– Why Uli and the other climbers left Everest without attempting the summit
It’s nearly impossible to understand the story as most of us have never been to Everest nor felt the tension between Sherpas and pro climbers above 22,000 feet on the world’s highest stage. Ueli Steck’s interview in Outside Magazine allows to at least see one side of the story.
What do you think? Is Ueli telling it straight? Is there more to this story?
“The fight occurred after the Europeans climbed above and reportedly kicked down ice on the Sherpas while the Sherpas were fixing ropes” from the article. Sounds like there’s more to the story to me.
im sure there are lots of aholes up there that deserve some hit, but ueli steck ???
no excuse for that !
at least the world can see what are their smiling faces all about … they are nice to you as long as you pay.
It is time that nepali government close the mountain for a few years. Nothing to do with the fight though. Just to calm down the pressure on our mountains and business competitions.
There’s always two sides to every story, but attacks like this should not be tolerated regardless of the triggering event. The Sherpa ring leaders should be banned from the mountain, and prosecuted by the local authorities. If not, you can expect more violence of this type to happen again.
Can you imagine the humiliation experienced by these three men having to beg for their lives at the hands of this mob? It’s unspeakable that such things are allowed to happen.
I’m sure it’s way more complicated than we understand, but when a group of 100 people are looking to kill somebody, you can be sure that there’s more going on than the immediate provocation. That’s years of frustration with low wages and poor treatment dragging rich westerners up Everest at the behest of their commercial guide service employers. Steck got caught on the wrong end of a labor dispute.
I agree with the idea that the expedition leaders have to take full responsibility for the behavior of every person they hire. Can’t just say: “These people have different customs. beware.”
Also, there may be a revolutionary spirit there, with the goal of taking the expedition companies business and full income, way beyone $4.50 per hour. The seemed not to have struck out against the people they really hate (economically of course).
I understand there are tensions up there and that these climbers may have done something against the code up there but this kind of violence has no place in mountaineering. I still keep thinking there must be more to this story.
Ueli was in the wrong. But all these american company’s who back him with lots of dollars are really trying to make it seem like the sherpas fault