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No Refunds For Everest Climbers
Mountain guide company Himalayan Experience (Himex) announced yesterday that there would be no refunds to climbers who spent roughly $55,000 on an expedition to Mt. Everest which was abruptly cancelled earlier this week. In a statement released on their website, the company said that most of the money has already been spent on logistics, permits, supplies and salaries for this season, but those clients wishing to return next year could do so at a discounted rate.Calling the 2012 spring season the most dangerous he has ever seen, team leader Russell Brice elected to pull all of his guides, Sherpas and clients off the mountain out of fear for their safety. In the same statement in which he broke the "no refunds" news, Brice also went into detail about how he came to his decision. He noted that unusually warm and dry weather on Everest has led to unstable conditions across the mountain, and the dangers created by those conditions were too great to put his team at risk.
Himex is already planning to return to Everest next season and they say that they've had preliminary meetings with the Ice Doctors regarding a safer route through the Khumbu Icefall. That section of the mountain sits just above Base Camp and has been one of the most dangerous areas of the mountain for years.
I salute Brice for making the tough decision for pulling his team off the mountain when literally millions of dollars are on the line. But I also can't help but feel sorry for the clients who have saved their pennies, trained hard and prepared physically and mentally for the opportunity to climb the tallest mountain on Earth. They must feel incredibly deflated at the moment and the promise of a discounted return trip next year can't really help soothe that. While a successful summit is never a guarantee, the fact that they didn't even get the chance to try must be crushing.
Lets also hope that the teams that remain on Everest will get up and down safely without any serious issues or accidents.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
oscar May 26th 2012 10:22PM
Great site,superb coverage and perspectives.
Re Himex and Russel Brice.I have known Russel for years and climbed as a "member" with Himex more than once,but im afraid never again.Alot of the commentary is quite supportive of the Russel Brice Himex approach,but in the interests of fairness i would like to have my say.All is not as it seems in Himex World ,RB is very controlling and very intimidating to anyone that dares to have a point of view.There are numerous blogs confirming this ,and his treatment of women, verges on mysogonistic.There has also been some unease on the Sth Side since he arrived throwing 'his way or the highway" approach around.The general feeling is that he should go back to the Nrth Side.The other interesting trend,is that his sherpas led by Phurba Tashi from the Kumjung region have become alot more militant in the past few years to the point where they are actually telling RB what will and wont work .I have had contact with current members and i can assure you that many are not impressed at their dream been shattered.RB is very good at controlling the press and the PR,but all is not well.It was Phurba Tashi who made the decision not to continue and the sherpas listen to him alone.The Kumjung sherpas are very very superstitious and they have a unhealthy fear of the Ice Fall.The death of Dawa cast an evil spirit over the mountain, so the weather,although a factor,was not the actual reason for the climb being aborted.The weather will improve ,summits will be made,and RB will be shown to have made a knee jerk reaction.I have witnessed his knee jerk reactions first hand.He will reflect this decision and he will regret it ,although this decision was taken out of his hands by the sherpas.Mutiny is maybe too strong ,but his 16 year brand is severely damaged,and is reputation has now lost clients trust.The correct cool head decision should have been to adopt a wait and see for 7/10 days ,then give members the choice,and those that want to stay re confirm their release of liability.Why on earth did he cancel Nuptse,theres more to it.As it stands right now 35 members will have 7days to talk about this on their way to Lukla ,then 3 more days in Ktnd to reflect.When they return home and work out that they have paid $US60,000 for no more than a summit of Lobuche and a trek to EBC they will quite rightly start to ask questions about the supposed "act of God "and the "best endevours" clause in the Himex waiver.Neither of the these clauses would would stand if they were challenged,especially as summit teams are making their way to South Col for a summit bid by weeks end.The members should have been given the option to carry on .Why it wasnt offered is simple ,Russel Brice and Himex could not provide the service ,eg the sherpas went on strike.This then becomes a breach of contract and each member is justified and entitled to a complete refund.Himex and Russel Brice have been irreparably damaged.Can they be trusted.This is my opinion not Alans ,and i would like to think i am entitled to it.I am sure many will agree,and some willnot ,but at the end of the day the clients should not have had their massive financial payments arbitrarily taken out of their hands.It should have been the clients decision at the clients own risk .Himex failed to provide the support (sherpas)for which is was contracted to do so.Members should demand a full refund,and good luck as Himex and RB are registered in the BVI.
KGB May 10th 2012 9:46PM
Himex will have trouble recruiting climbers for next year for sure.
Bailing too soon never goes down well, and the climbing community for Everest is a small one, and news of cancelling travels faster than an avalanche. Selling a ticket to climb with Himex next year is going to be a very hard sell. People with the $$$ to climb remember who made the top, and who bailed out, Himex is bad news to them.
Pookie May 10th 2012 9:56PM
The likelihood that Himex will be no more is a strong one as the lawsuits that are sure to come from this mess will easily put an end to Himex.
Russel bailed on every summit... something's wrong in camp Himex for sure.