I have a weird fascination with everest climbing season, which some pretty conflicted feelings about the people who travel to climb it these days.<p>Essentially the only draw of Everest that is truly unique is "it's the tallest." That's not very meaningful; it doesn't translate into "best views" or "most challenging" or even "most significant to summit." Yet this bucket-list task of "climb the tallest mountain" is leading to traffic jams of rich westerners all trying to shuffle their way up the peak at once are making expeditions extremely dangerous for each other, and the sherpas.<p>Honestly, I don't think anyone really has any business up there. I think if you have a natural talent for mountaineering, you can find better, more challenging climbs that are still safer. I do think I recognize the draw, but I'm also repulsed by the selfishness. And I don't accept the echo-chamber consensus opinion of mountaineers that it's all worth it in the end.