It has been called the most inhospitable place on earth. It is a place so dangerous that over 120 bodies currently remain upon it, unclaimed and unreachable for burial. It is a place so cold and so devoid of life that three quarters of a century after his death, climber George Mallory's body was found almost perfectly preserved despite being exposed to the elements the entire time.
Standing 29,035 feet above sea level, Mount Everest is commonly known as the highest point in the world and remains one of the most dangerous. It is the subject of numerous movies and TV shows, most of which expound upon the aforementioned dangers, and yet, this mountain is so much more. "People flock to shows about Everest on the Discovery Channel expecting to see a train wreck," said Leon Watts, owner of Adventure Outfitters in Tampa, "we don't climb for a train wreck, we do it because it is such a fantastic, wonderful and beautiful thing." It is this beauty and this wonder that Adventure Outfitters, Vertical Ventures and Tampa Bay Outfitters as well as others in the Tampa climbing community hope to share this Thursday when they host "An Evening with Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa" at The Tampa Club.
