Everest's Villain? The Sandy Hill Pittman Story

Sandy Hill Pittman was a part of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster where 8 people died. She quickly became the villain of the story and still is a villain, almost 30 years later. This is her story.
🏔️ Check out this Everest video on Sandy's team leader, Scott Fischer: • The Last Climb: The Li... 🏔️
========================
Everest Wish List for armchair or otherwise adventurers (these are affiliate links which means if you buy something, we'll receive a small commission)
✳️ The Infamous Cappucino Machine! amzn.to/48s4p5n
✳️ Merrino wool socks: amzn.to/485EwZy
✳️ Heated vest: amzn.to/478Atu6
✳️ Camping cookware: amzn.to/3tuQjBC
✳️ Headlamp: amzn.to/487i5De
Mount Everest Books
✳️ Into Thin Air: amzn.to/3GXVPzu
✳️ The Climb: amzn.to/3GUl7yy
✳️ Everest: Mountain without mystery: amzn.to/3RwzRZq
✳️ Ascent into hell: amzn.to/3RTfcQT
=======================
Become a channel member! Join in on some deeper discussion, members-only posts and behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating videos. It's the lighter side of these sometimes-serious videos! www.youtube.com/@adventuresgo...
=======================
Be respectful in the comments otherwise your comments will promptly end up in a crevasse in the Khumbu Icefall.
=======================
0:00 The 1996 Everest disaster
0:51 Krakauer and Into Thin Air
1:09 The storm hits
2:51 The aftermath
4:12 Sandy Hill a villain?
5:45 Sandy's climbing resume
9:16 Everest attempt 1 & 2
10:05 Final Everest bid
10:59 The infamous cappucino machine
11:35 Sandy responds
13:20 Scott Fischer's 1996 team
14:10 Others speak about Sandy
15:21 The allure of the mountains
15:56 Crossfit
16:05 What do YOU think?
#mounteverest #sandyhillpittman #jonkrakauer #mounteverestdisaster
Copyright © 2023 Adventures Gone Wrong. All rights reserved.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Some of you are asking why Sandy Hill Pittman was blamed for the deaths - there are a few things people accuse her of by indirectly causing deaths: 1) She was short-roped (or pulled up the mountain) near the top by a Sherpa and they say this caused delays for the whole team as that Sherpa was supposed to set ropes up higher. The delay meant they were up on the summit dangerously late in the day and then the storm hit. (this is usually the main reason and the short-roping is confirmed by a few people who saw it) 2) She "hooked up" with a snowboarder and that angered the gods thus causing the storm (this was pointed out by Krakauer, but it was the Sherpas who really believed this, I don't get the sense many Western climbers bought into it) 3) She brought extravagant items that her Sherpas had to carry high up the mountain, thus tiring them out (this is more vague, there's not a lot of specific info on this anywhere)

[@elik.1243]

I recall a serous newspaper article from the 90‘s talking about Pittman making people carry a coffee machine and lingerie.

[@paulgrey8028]

@@elik.1243 people made it sound like Pittman had a big arse cappuccino 'machine'. An interesting way to describe a coffee pot.

[@jjhammond1]

She has claimed that she didn’t want to be short-roped, but Scott Fischer insisted she get to the top at all costs so the Sherpa was following his instructions.

[@Peg-zl9lr]

She also threw a party in Kathmandu mere days after the debacle of summitting everyone endured.

[@jjohnsengraciesmom]

@@elik.1243 i doubt that would be true. Lingerie? Really.

[@lukewarmwater5320]

Back in the 90s when I was killing myself with booze and dope I was sitting around the living room with my buddy Vern watching the news and the Everest disaster came on. I remember saying "What the fuck is wrong with those people? Why would anyone want to risk their lives doing that dumb shit!?" and without taking his eyes from the TV Vern said "They'd probably say the same thing if they saw how we lived...".

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Vern had a point!

[@DanielleWhite]

I've had a lot of the "why would you risk your life like that" about riding motorcycles...

[@nancyvillines4552]

I assume that was your wake up call. ❤😊

[@nancyvillines4552]

​@@DanielleWhitedriven by passion ❤

[@DamitaBlue]

Facts. People have there own adventures. Some choose drugs, others choose other life altering things. Who are we to judge?

[@notever_everytime5074]

I've read Krakauer's book, and he doesn't vilify Sandy at all - it seems to be Sandy who feels like the victim. He was honest about everyone's shortcomings: Sandy wanted the sherpa to haul a satellite phone / fax above camp 3, where it didn't even work; Scott was bad at delegation, which wore him out completely as he ran to and down the mountain in multiple extra trips; Rob ignored his own protocols, causing his own death, and the deaths of others; Yasuko showed up not even knowing how to use crampons; Anatoli refused to use supplemental oxygen when he was supposed ro remain at maximum mental clarity for clients; poor communication between the two teams about rope-fixing responsibilities lead to hours of delay on sumit day; Lopsang short-roped Sandy up the summit for a couple of hours, draining his strength to guide; John himself was very self-focused and didn't help with the rescue efforts at all. No one was painted in pretty colors.

[@shawnmosleh2363]

Krakauer is a crappy writer anyway

[@tkps]

Everyone goes on about Anatoli not using oxygen but it seems he didn't need it and he did rescue people when others didn't try. It's a very self centred sport by the sound of it and it also appears to work in the way that guides/leaders advise but decisions are solely yours. I've read many books on the various expeditions and I take it as you pay us for permit, equipment, tent, food, ropes, advice etc. You get you up and down including yeah or neigh.

[@dhanyarajan5496]

Try reading Anatoli's book as well

[@lisaperry5999]

@@dhanyarajan5496 great read

[@cindypereira5194]

Yasuko had 6 of the 7 summits. Hardly inexperienced.

[@jessicadouglas4927]

The point of Krakauer's book was not "Sandy Hill should not have been on Everest". The point of his book was "No one should be on Everest".

[@tazjoplin1733]

This is also very true.

[@aquarianbeauty80]

I think Everest is beautiful, but I agree.

[@M.R.BrickFilms]

@@aquarianbeauty80 Everest is beautiful from a distance, dangerous up-close

[@sabrinatscha2554]

That’s still a rather narrow-minded take, and just a tad, self righteous. People go on these expeditions, knowing full well that they are risking their lives. The sherpas included. For one thing; if people just stopped going it, would ruin the livelihoods of thousands of locals who live off of the industry. Were it not for the same spirit that drives some of us into needlessly dangerous situations, we would all still be cave-dwellers, or possibly even extinct. And the mountain itself, will be there, until time grinds it down into sand, regardless of wether we climb it, or not.

[@frankie3791]

Perhaps but some people are prepared Capable and realize what is nessacary and what is not to take on this mountain...she obviously was not one of those people...

[@SanadaUsako]

I’ve read the book twice, and I don’t think Krakauer blames her at all. He’s critical of some things she did sure, but he’s critical of a lot of people there including himself. I actually thought it was mostly balanced in representing the complicated factors at play.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

That’s fair. From the comments here, people seem to have different views on that after reading it.

[@jimbo1959]

I've got the book as well,and you're right, he doesn't blame her. He blames all the resources that was taken from the expedition, to focus on her, because she could not have sumitted on her own!! Therefore she should not have been on that mountain!! This video goes into the other mountains that she's climbed, but doesn't say how much " help " she had on those as well??

[@automnejoy5308]

The fact that she chose to interpret it that way tells me a lot about her. It definitely backs up the accusations that she is self-centered and egotistical. Blood money, really? lol. He went easy on her, I thought. He certainly did not "villify" her or any one person. All of the criticisms he made were reasonable and are backed up by other people who were there. Of course there will always be those who disagree, but at the end of the day you have to try and get to the root of what went wrong and not try to shy away from it or cover it up. She clearly has no respect for his journalistic integrity and was hoping he would just say 100% glowing things about her. He didn't pull any criticisms about anyone out of thin air, despite the title. Some people cannot handle any criticism, and she's clearly one of those people.

[@Kendoom93]

I totally agree. Krakauer didn't blame individual persons at all, he described a picture of a multitude of factors and circumstances that lead to the drama.

[@snowmonster42]

Same. There was a lot of blame to go around and I thought he was pretty even handed. He didn't totally let himself off the hook either.

[@gjk540]

Mount Everest has become a polluted, overcrowded landscape filled with privileged people looking for the next, exotic thrill to alleviate their boredom. Jon Krakauer's book was not at all "sensationalistic," nor did he blame Pittman for the tragedy. He was truthful about what happened on Everest that day. He also writes for a living. How abhorrent for Pittman to acuse him of making "blood money" from his book.

[@ThatCasualZach]

Privileged is a word used by the weak and woke.

[@alorralora]

She's entitled to her opinion. As am I, and it looks like blood money to me, too.

[@isabellind1292]

Mt Everest is the highest garbage dump in the planet. These people who claim they climb this mountain because of it's spectacular beauty that we've all had the privilege of admiring are the same people who poop & piss & leave all their piles of garbage behind. It's also become biohazard to the surrounding communities. In 2019, crews removed over 25,000 ibs of garbage off the mountain. I believe they've started charging deposit of $4,000/US to climbers, refundable only if they return w/the specified amount of garbage back down w/them. I understand Nepal's economy depends on these people who climb the mountain but that doesn't mean the people who use the mountain for whatever gratification they get out of it (and I doubt none of them would bother climbing the mountain if they were the last people on the planet because there'd be no one for them to tell what remarkable people they are) gives them permission to use the mountain they profess to respect as their dumping ground.

[@trinityj1]

@@alorralora Have you read the book or did you just watch this short video from one pov and decide you knew anything about this situation

[@charisselinnell-morton4137]

That book was haunting as I was shocked by the deadly attack summit fever . Rob Hall was supposed to turn back at an exact time but he was not thinking clearly due to oxygen depletion and hypothermia. I remember the big Russian or German guy who was just out by himself picking up people and then putting them on his back into tents. They only talked about him briefly. Still can’t believe Beck lived !

[@mollysarkisian5545]

In hospital when things go wrong, we often see “the Swiss cheese effect”, meaning a combination of factors “lined up” to create a death/serious injury. (Lack of communication, preparation, competencies; short-cuts, fatigue etc)

[@leeanneyoungman8028]

That’s the perfect metaphor for this story .. you nailed it and the loss of life in all these stories could have been prevented by commonsense and in other words “ pulling one’s head out of one’s A..s

[@adventuresgonewrong]

There were SO many factors here. And someone who was there said if the storm came 2 hours earlier, most of them would be dead. If it came two hours later, they'd likely all be alive.

[@leeanneyoungman8028]

@@adventuresgonewrong either way the storm came… thanks for your stories 😊

[@em84c]

Its crazy huge disasters are often caused by multiple little things happening at the same time. If one those things didn't happen tragedy could have been avoided or minimised. Like the Bopal disaster in India. There is a great episode of Seconds From Disaster about it.

[@AnaLucia-wy2ii]

That’s a great descriptor. I remember hearing that for some other preventable tragedies as well.

[@DonMcFarlane-sf7lw]

I was 21 years old when I did a three week trek into Everest (1979). It was beautiful, uncluttered and a surreal place of pure wonder of the natural world. It was obvious why the Himalayas are such an attraction to the best mountaineers in the world. They climbed for personal satisfaction using the skills developed over a lifetime of climbing. I had no such experience. Then it became a circus with incompetent expeditions. And then came the commercializations of climbing Everest. Lack of experience, lack of fitness, poor judgment, the need to take unreasonable risk for commercial gain, and unbelievable and tragic decision to ignore the well know fact that storms hit Everest with little notice and are more severe than many professionals can handle. And the policy of the Nepalese government to grant far too many permits to expeditions who all try to make a narrow window of opportunity to summit. For all these reasons the 1996 disaster is not a mystery, it was inevitable. No respect for a mountain like Everest. suffer the consequences.

[@JadedBelle]

Awesome that you had that opportunity! Thanks for sharing.

[@alireid5874]

Not inevitable. Rob Hall knew better. If he stuck to his own rules, most of this doesn't happen. Scott Fischer was a first time lead guide, and also made critical errors. Too much pressure because of the clientele and cameras. 💔

[@markheinle6319]

i live in a highly populated city and can go walk the mountains alone with my dog within 20 minutes. dont fret over the mountains. they are ok. they will last. people just will queue up at anything when the exact same thing has no queue next door. or within 20 minutes instead of 2000 miles. fret not my friend. every Everest climber gets what they bargained for. no more.

[@sparkdrive2900]

Fake, he didnt actually climb.

[@guydaley]

@@markheinle6319 There is only one Everest. There is no "exact same thing next door".

[@DorothyRInman]

I will be greatly vilified for saying this, but I strongly believe had Rob Hall practiced what he preached, many more lives would have been saved.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Actually I think a lot of people agree with you. Many bad decisions were made by leaders that day.

[@Tommykey07]

It's especially baffling when he was expecting the birth of his daughter in two months. You would think having something to live for like that would make you more safety conscious.

[@1unsung971]

Wider reading on your part is required to understand Rob Hall's "process" at that time.

[@christineb8537]

Yes, I blame poor judgment by both leaders - they put getting people on the summit over safety.

[@TheWanderingWife]

@@1unsung971 I’ve done quite a bit of reading on this subject and I totally agree that he erred. He really wanted one of his clients to summit, as he had come close before, but this was going to be his last shot at it, and he had barely been able to afford this trip. He allowed his feelings for the guy, who had become a friend, to overrule his own rule. That being said, there were MANY errors by many people that contributed.

[@nowi5181]

I just finished "Into Thin Air," and Jon did not blame Sandy for the disaster. He did point out that she was short roped for 5-6 hours and was probably not up to the challenge of Everest. She was also filing dispatches for NBC while on the mountain and made Lap Sang drag a satellite phone all the way to Camp 4 along with other creature comforts not available to the average climber. in 1993 she even brought her 9 year old son to base camp with a nanny to look after him and hired four of the world's best climbers to help her ascend the mountain (which she failed on that attempt). She is a very wealthy socialite who probably shouldn't have been on the mountain that day. Leaving the summit, a guide forced someone else to give up their oxygen because Sandy had gone through 3 bottles just to get to the top. All in all, not the villain, that's her wanting to be the victim when others died on that mountain. Personally, I find her distasteful, but the consensus is that she is a moderately skilled amateur climber, who has the money and means to get to the summits she wants. I also find her opinion of Jon completely self-serving and wrong.

[@StupidPrizesPosterChild]

He couldn't blame her due to lawsuits.

[@ElizabethF2222]

I find her very selfish. If you use money to climb up the mountain, while others use their own courage, experience and pure grit, then that is cheating. Even worse, when others die because of her having to be pulled up and having to give up their oxygen to her, then it's even worse. She's no "victim" IMO.

[@ElizabethF2222]

@@StupidPrizesPosterChild Exactly. Authors have to be so careful about defamation and potential lawsuits. It was a fantastic book. I think he was giving us hints and the blueprint to work it out ourselves, that no one can deny that other people died because of her.

[@hb1338]

@@ElizabethF2222 .. except that everybody else on the expedition (other than the guides) was doing exactly the same thing, using money to climb the mountain.

[@smartdumb274]

"She is a very wealthy socialite who probably shouldn't have been on the mountain that day." Did you watch the video? Did she have any less skill or experience than others on the mountain?Sounds like there's some sexism at play here.

[@barbarawilcox182]

Thank you for a thoughtful piece! What's awful about the 1996 disaster is that the main trigger -- leaders overeager to get high-paying clients to the summit -- has only gotten worse, as if nobody has learned anything.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Scott Fischer had commented on how there were more and more expedition companies back in the 90’s. If he only knew what was to come…

[@Builder44708]

Exactly. Well said.

[@sabrinatscha2554]

Meh.. it is what it is. I can however agree at peoples’ annoyance at it becoming a craze. Popularity guts whatever it takes ahold of, and hangs it out to dry in the sun.

[@allanfifield8256]

No one knowledgeable blames Pittman overall for the tragedy that developed. She is part of the story; the short roping exhausted one of the head Sherpa's. Part of tragedy is that the assistant guides were not given 2 way radios. This could have saved many of those died or had severe frostbite. You charge people $xxxxx per to climb and you save $xxx for a couple of radios? One Guide = One Radio should be the norm for this type of commercial climb.

[@alireid5874]

Was it common to have so few radios? Seems like a glaringly obvious error.

[@tamangish]

Absolutely.

[@wade0921]

Yes they do....she caused delays up and down, which on this summit attempt had deadly consequences. Had she not been rescued she would have died. She was a "weak link." She has not thanked the two that saved her life. On the rescue hike back up they chose to save the ingrate.

[@Tenebarum]

​@@wade0921Should have rescued Beck and left her. But he made it to the camp on his own.

[@JavierBonillaC]

It's been a while since I read the book, but I don't remember Krakauer portraying her as guilty of the tragedy. I do remember him portraying her as someone who needed a lot of help from her sherpa, but I may be wrong. She has a lot of merit, but people, in every sport, look for shortcuts. People buy horses fully trained by someone else and compete with them. It's just how it works and tne world will always be that way.

[@jennlynnechancey]

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I may have to go back and re-read it. I don't remember feeling she was a villan, but it's been a while. It was just a disaster.

[@macimages4215]

I have a similar recollection, but it’s been a long time since I read that book. And if I remember right, there was at least an implied “we paid you, get us to the top” mentality going on.

[@tesslott8375]

I read it a couple years ago, but I remember him vilifying Anatoli Boukreev more than anyone else. I remember his portrayal of Sandy as being the same as what you wrote pretty much

[@lolotaeja3911]

@tesslot He vilified both of them, and Boukreev was one of the biggest heros during that tragedy. He went out and rescued people while Krakauer refused to help, hiding in his tent. ​

[@ScarsFromTomorrow1]

@@lolotaeja3911 I wouldn't say he "refused to help". He was a journalist, not a climber and besides which there was no visibility and the conditions were brutal. If he'd tried to help he'd probably have died. I don't remember him villifying Boukerev though. I remember him commenting on the choice to climb without oxygen, which I think is a poor decision for someone who's acting as a guide. Obviously it didn't stop him from saving people but it was an odd choice. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Kraukauer presenting his account as fact, but just as his experience/memory.

[@schnauzermom2922]

Poor Charlotte Fox survived this same Mt Everest trip…..and later fell down the stairs of her home and died. Absolutely tragic.

[@em84c]

Thats so ironic;

[@scottiehall8695]

Keep digging for info and you'll find that she was drunk.

[@TheGotoGeek]

@@scottiehall8695If you had survived that expedition you might take to the bottle, too. There’s more than enough survivor’s guilt from that day for everyone.

[@hannahp1108]

Oh god, I didn't know that. How awful

[@theycallmejodamo]

@@scottiehall8695 You say that like it makes it any less tragic. I’d almost argue that the fact that she took to the bottle after something like that makes it even more tragic. I hate you holier than thou types who act like someone else’s shortcomings/addictions make them somehow less of a person. I hope someone botches your eulogy.

[@HollyCat504]

Her being short roped up by Lopsang definitely added to the disaster, as this was the reason for a 2 hour delay since he couldn’t fix the ropes ahead of time bc of it. But the main reason she’s vilified is bc of her behavior AFTER the summit. And deservedly so bc she behaved horribly. Examples: 1-What she said about Neal Beidleman, who pretty much dragged her ass down the mountain, and Anatoli Boukreev, who went out into the storm to rescue her. She never mentioned them once in any of her interviews and when asked by a reporter why “she had never thanked either of the 2 gentlemen who saved her life? “ Sandy responded “And which 2 gentlemen would that be?” Neal confirmed she never once thanked him and told others that he didn’t do anything special, he just did his job. 2- Broke the team pact to not speak to the media until they had all regrouped. 3- Neglected to tell the group that her “blowout cocktail party” in Kathmandu that she had invited them to was actually a media event and pictures were being taken. They all showed up dressed casually. She showed up fully done up and wearing an elaborate Tibetan headdress. 4- Threw a fit when there was no “hero’s welcome” party thrown for her upon her return to NYC. 5- Oh, and allowed NBC to name this the “NBC Everest Assault”, making it seem as though it was her expedition instead of Scott’s. She was a diva and acted like one. She didn’t cause this disaster, only heavily contributed to it. But her diva behavior even after she should have been humbled by the mountain is the root cause of people’s (and my) dislike of her. (Editing to add this reply I just posted) Oh, and I forgot about another one that made people dislike her so intensely. Instead of doing the 10-day trek outta base camp like other mere mortals, she chartered a helicopter. The company told her that they had 2 helicopters available: a newer and much nicer model but only sat 4 passengers. Or an old, Russian helicopter that was just a basic model but could seat up to 12 passengers. And they were both the exact same price: $2500 USD. So, she could’ve rented a helicopter that, while it wasn’t luxurious, would be large enough to get all of her teammates out. Or said screw you to the teammates, many who saved her life, so she could ride in style. One guess which choice she made. But even with the new one, she still had room for 3 passengers. She offered 1 seat to the team doctor and 1 seat to Tim Madsen and offered the 3rd seat to no one. Surprisingly, she didn’t offer that 3rd seat to Charlotte Fox who, along with being pretty much her only friend on the mountain, was ALSO TIM’S GIRLFRIEND. Yep. Offered Charlotte’s boyfriend a seat but not Charlotte. Which effectively ended that friendship lol. And that came directly from Charlotte’s mouth to my ear after we had a good bit to drink at a fundraiser in Aspen sometime around 2003 or 2004. Also, I saw you mentioned that you didn’t know what “extravagant items” Lopsang was hauling up the mountain for Sandy Pittman. Per Neal Beidleman during a talk he gave to my class at CU-Boulder in 1998 (which was also his alma mater) Sandy has a lot of big, heavy satellite equipment in order to get online and do her blog for NBC. Remember, this was 1996 so you barely had internet access in large cities, much less up on Everest. So she needed tons of equipment to make it happen. Neal said they thought she would leave it all at base camp in her comms tent but she had them haul it up as high as camp 3 until finally Scott and Rob both had to shut it down.

[@meredithheath5272]

Thanks for all your writing, and possible clarifications of this tragedy. Anyone who has lived, esp. a non sheltered life, as I haven't, know damn well that we see a lot of individuals get away with so much, sometimes, via deliberately engineered, and even evil actions. From your telling, she was/ is, indeed a social climber., and the very least a narcissist. She got very lucky and smart in her life's choices, both personally and professionally, and, no doubt her very good looks contributed to her success. Since I've seen individuals, as I said, manipulate situations, ( who know how to lie, pivot, blame the victim, or claim to be the victim, smear campaign, use their skillful "cognitive creativity" (know how to make lemonade out of lemons), I can't help but think she was/ is one of "those".

[@adventuresgonewrong]

There were 2 guides, another Sherpa who were perfectly capable of fixing ropes yet they sat there and did nothing for a while. It wasn't left up to ONE Sherpa, that's ridiculous. They finally fixed the ropes without Lopsang, proving they didn't need to wait. Charlotte said herself in an article that she got out on a helicopter with Mike Groom because they both had frostbite so bad. So not sure what you're talking about there. You make it seem like they hiked out when they were actually incapable of walking. So no, they didn't do the 60-mile hike with frostbitten feet. I know of her comms equipment, yet you neglect to mention the 7 other teams that also had comms equipment. Half the teams that year had comms tents and were sending out dispatches. Yet everyone focuses on Sandy's sat phones lol. Yet people can haul booze for parties, Starbucks coffee but oh boy let's focus on equipment to get info out to the media. That was partly why Scott brought her on the team! As for the rest and not thanking them right away, who knows how people will act after almost dying and going thru trauma that would last a lifetime. She was friends with Anatoli until he died and she doesn't hesitate now to say he saved her life. And her throwing a fit, lol. Were you there?

[@guydaley]

Maybe you spent too much time at altitude and fried your brains. No one put a gun to Lopsangs head and forced him to short rope Hill - NOBODY. He understood his responsibilities to the expedition. WHY he chose to aid Hill rather then go ahead and fix the ropes is UNKNOWN. The expedition leaders were responsible for the delays NOT HILL because they should have been emphatic with LopSang about getting the job done before the paying clients arrived. Moreover, it wasn't just Lopsang that was responsible for the fixed ropes. There was another sherpa and he refused to go without using the buddy system. In all acounts about this disaster, the common thread is that without the fixed ropes in place before the clients arrived it caused a delay where they all were exposed to a viscious storm and the ferocity of the storm was absolutely nobodies fault. It was just bad luck. Rob Hall died because he felt obligated to babysit his friend until he died and by then the storm had consumed him as well. Hill made it down the mountain, on her own power with a larger group until the group couldn't move at all because of the lack of visibility. There were plenty of heroes in this scenario. I didn't see any villains at all. Just a series of bad decisions compounded with a freak storm. Lastly, disaster hit MORE than these two groups that fateful day.

[@SmokeTheHolyChalice]

@@adventuresgonewrong so you were there? I think not thanking or acknowledging two people that saved her life, not to mention Charlotte, who gave her two shots of dexamethasone, one that saved her life and the other after she directly asked Charlotte for during their descent from Camp Iv, is disgusting and indicative of a very self-centered, entitled, immature person who can prove dangerous to others in situations like those found on top of Everest. She also stated that nobody on her team died, forgetting that Scott was dead and definitely on her team. She’s selfish, more than most, and lacks empathy with a victim complex. No, she isn’t the only person responsible for the deaths, but she did play a role. She has lied about how long she was short-roped, contradicting Krakauer and other witnesses. She also said she didn’t want to be short-roped but the poor thing, who apparently was such a strong climber, was helpless against the mighty Lopsang, a small man who was quite ill himself, to object or do anything about it as the paying client. The same clients that Scott and Neil both came down on Boukreev for not catering to and waiting on enough. We all know why she was short-roped and we all know that she didn’t object and how long it went on for. Again, doesn’t mean she is solely responsible for any climber’s death but to lie, minimize and refuse to acknowledge certain facts because they directly undercut her victim narrative that would have you thinking that the poor thing was just a poor leaf, being blown helplessly around in the breeze, unable to control the situation developing around her, which also conveniently allows her to avoid responsibility as well, is laughable and certainly not typical of a world class climber, or even an adult for that matter. Apparently, she felt in control the night before the summit push descending down the mountain rather than resting in order to meet up with friends for dinner. Now, I am not sure if this is true or not and recommend you see for yourself. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter as my argument does not rely on it being true or not. However, if it is it is simply one more example of the selfishness I am referring to. I would like to know what interest you have in repairing her reputation though? Be honest, what is Sandy Hill Pittman to you?

[@paulgrey8028]

It's extremely curious how those involved in the two expeditions continue to call it an unexpected "rogue storm" when both expeditions were privy to highly accurate weather reports received by the IMAX team and a European team. In fact the IMAX team, who had planned to summit on the 9th, abandoned the plan and turned back due to unstable weather. It's a closely guarded secret by those in the know for whatever reason. It took British climber Graham Ratcliffe [who was on the South Col on the night of the tenth but not mentioned in Krakauers book] three years before he found the truth of the matter. Shame on all who perpetuate the myth of an unexpected 'rogue storm' when the truth is that both expedition leaders took a bunch of relatively inexperienced climbers to the summit when they KNEW that a storm was bearing down on them. Even more baffling is how Hall ignored his own turnaround time with that knowledge.

[@bocivus328]

Do you have any more info on the claim that they knew a storm was inevitable? I'd be curious to read/watch more about it. As weather nerd, I always thought that was rather suspect myself, but never really found any information on the matter.

[@Starshelle]

I've always been skeptical and suspected Sandy was being held to an unfair double standard, and your video seems to support that. It sounds like she was an experienced climber, and she wasn't the leader of the group, so I hardly see how she could to be blamed the disaster. I've watched a lot of these types of videos about these sort of disasters, but yours are quickly becoming my favorite. I love the way you tell the stories! You really have a good talent for this.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I've always heard the same old arguments about her, that's why I chose to dive deeper into her story. And she was not only an accomplished mountaineer, she really had the love for it since she was a kid. So her being painted as the socialite who just climbed for fame is so not true. And at some level, I think a lot of mountain climbers have ego!

[@duckman5274]

She was short lined to a Sherpa and he towed her to the summit.@@adventuresgonewrong

[@adventuresgonewrong]

She was short-roped for a while but not all the way to the summit. Nowhere does it say that, not even in Krakauer's book. He also says she argued about being short-roped and didn't want to be attached to Lopsang.

[@lisaperry5999]

Beck said Sandy was vilified by the media unfairly and Jon's book.

[@williamwade3443]

they were all late because the Sherpa responsible for setting the ropes was pulling Pittman up the mountain. So the ascent was delayed by two hours as the ropes were set by the other climbers. Pittman indicated later that she was being short roped up Everest against her will. So the question that has never been satisfactorily answered is why did Lopsang, the highly regarded Sherpa, abandon his task of setting ropes to literally pull Pittman up the mountain for five hours. My opinion is that nobody would have died that day/night had Pittman not been on that climb. The ropes would have been set on schedule and the climbers would have made it to the summit and back down on time missing the storm.

[@DanielleWhite]

The deal with the moka pot is weird especially given that there are so many who use hand grinders and french presses, aeropresses, etc., on such climbs. It feels like one of those details handpicked to present and an ill-advised extravagance to entice readers who don't know the background of how pedestrian it is.

[@joshpoe]

Pedestrian lol. It’s deadly for the inexperienced and pros alike when lifting dead weight being it alive or dead or some useless possession.

[@shewearsfunnyhat]

@@joshpoeI am pretty sure other climbers brought coffee pots too.

[@misterdemocracy3335]

I would have rather just brought caffeine pills or an instant coffee mix in warm water. Why the need to bring heavy equipment all that way?

[@sabrinatscha2554]

@misterdemocracy3335 This is back in the day, when instant coffee was worse than no coffee, and that’s coming from a coffee addict. They have made strides in its production just in the last decade. It used to taste like water from an ashtray.

[@debbiesitarz3455]

I agree. When people decide they want a villain, they will latch on to the most inconsequential or irrelevant tidbits and use them as tools to bolster their narrative . A coffee brewer that weighs maybe 400 grams, vs. the tones of cases of beer and other booze (yes, there is a lot of partying that goes on at base camp) that the porters haul to base camp for the boys to satiate themselves with.. . hmmm. And what exactly is the significance of labelling Sandy as a "socialite" . . . what is the relevance of this?? Would she have been more "respected" as a serious climber if she was "poor", wore shabby clothes, smelled of patchouli and had stringy dreadlocks in her hair? Would an affluent man who dressed well, and was polished and well groomed, ever be criticized like this, or would he be recognized for his mountanieering accomplishments alone?

[@nilofarbawa2377]

Anatoli did not pretend to be a super hero, he was a hero, he singlehandedly saved lives that fateful night on the mountain while Krakaur refused to leave his tent.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Anatoli had also been resting at his tent for hours before he set out to rescue people. Krakauer barely made it down to the tents. He was in no shape to go rescuing anyone.

[@woofna1948]

Anatoli had the physical reserve to do so. Krakauer did not. It's a tremendous amount of reserve that's required, an Olympic gold medal level of fitness in a brutal, unforgiving environment. Don't make the mistake of thinking that it was just that Krakauer didn't care, or could have done it but selfishly chose not to. You weren't there, so better not to draw unfounded conclusions.

[@beknazarnomad7170]

​@@adventuresgonewrong Read Anatolii's book The Climb. And you'll know the real truth.

[@ZenZill]

Rob Hall's decision to stay up on the mountain with an already doomed Hansen frustrates me, the guy was married and had a kid on the way! Hubris and a little greed killed this group, yet that wont stop others from pushing to the summit when they're already spent.

[@vanessac1721]

Agreed. If he felt so bad for Hansen, he should have offered him a freebie to try again the following year and stuck to the turnaround time.

[@marilyndee969]

I lived in Nepal from 1991 to 1993. I went trekking a lot and climbed a moderate trekking peak, Kala Patar, where you could look at Everest from the top. It wasn't a hard climb, but at 18,000 feet, was higher than the highest mountain in Europe. The 1995 Everest tragedy happened after I left Nepal, but I read all I could about it. I read Jon Krakauer's book, and Beck Weather's book, too. I also knew Broughton Coburn, who later wrote a book about what happened there. I met him on a trek, at Namche Bazaar, and he was a really nice and knowledgable guy. This is the first video that has not cast Sandy Hill Pittman as the villain. The whole event was the result of many errors, but the worst was the sudden and violent storm they encountered on the way down the mountain. Turn around times were not enforced. Had they just done that, much of what happened could have most likely been avoided. But no one can say anything for sure about it. Another strange tragedy is that Charlotte Fox, who spoke in the video, died in 2018 by falling down stairs in her home. She was part of the huddle that night on Everest, and was saved by Anatoli Bookreev, who went out into the storm and heroically saved lives. Thanks for letting Sandy talk and tell her side of it. I know she wanted to write a book called Seven Summits of my Soul, and sadly never did after the tragedy. I have read all of the critcisms written about her. Who am I to judge her? She was qualified and a fit climber, and had as much right to be there as anyone else. It was good to hear her speak. Again, thanks for this video.

[@lesliematteis8010]

I’m not saying SHP was not a fit climber, but she insisted on bringing literally tons of heavy recording equipment up. She insisted that the sherpas attend to her needs, rather than the needs of the group, so the sherpas were unable to set up the ropes, causing delays. She is a selfish, narcissistic woman, who did a lot of harm, but will never admit to anything. No remorse, no self reflection.

[@allanfifield8256]

@@lesliematteis8010 Thank You

[@adventuresgonewrong]

There is no evidence she insisted the sherpas attend to her needs instead of the group, and even Krakauer says she did not want to be short-roped to Lopsang. That was Lopsang's decision and ultimately the responsibility lies solely with Scott Fischer, the expedition leader. Blaming a client for the decisions of sherpas and group leaders makes zero sense. Also, Krakauer also says that the rest of her team really liked Sandy. You'd think they'd have much more to say if she was the cause of the deaths of everyone.

[@allanfifield8256]

If she didn't want to be short roped, she could have refused. She had agency, a highly accomplished adult who made her own decisions and is responsible for them. This climb was not her best moment. Part of the story, part of what went wrong. Rob and Scott skimping on radios is the key to the extent of the disaster. One guide = One radio.

[@marilyndee969]

@@allanfifield8256 - So many mistakes. So many bad and fatal decisions. Even sticking to the turn around times could have made a huge difference. But they didn't do it. And history can never be undone. Who knows what was in her mind when she got short roped up part of the mountain? She wanted that summit badly. The environment up there is brutal and the oxygen is low. Was she thinking clearly? You think you are, but you may not be at all. That time I went up we were in the region trekking around for three weeks. I saw lots of behavior I don't think I would have seen at sea level on a beach outing. The "now or never" feeling also takes over. Some thought this was their big chance, and their only chance. They had to go for it no matter what. What's done is done. The whole thing was sad, and a lot of people died. And no one can do anything about it now.

[@America-Is-Doomed]

I believe that if Sandy wasn't there when this event happened, those involved would have blamed someone (anyone) else to move the light off of their mistakes rather than take responsibility for their own actions. As a Mountain Rescue SAR leader, we get call outs all winter long because of unexpected storms and weather events in the mountains. There is never blame put on anyone for it and if there was blame to be had, it should be focused on NOAA and the National Weather Service for not getting the weather predictions correct... right? Of course not!! Weather happens in the high country and that will never change! Be as prepared as you can and use your brain. When it starts looking bad, get the hell off the mountain unless you'd like to meet your local SAR team.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for your perspective! Interested to hear your take on some who say rescuers shouldn’t be put in that position, to rescue people. That those in trouble should just suck it up if they run into problems and not risk other people’s lives.

[@America-Is-Doomed]

​@@adventuresgonewrong Mine and most other SAR teams I've worked with over the years would say to those people, BS. People don't go out looking to get hurt, stranded or pummeled by the weather, so to say they should be left on their own is about the most ignorant thing a person could say or think. Most people don't understand that as much as 90% or more of most SAR teams in America are civilian volunteers who do it because they have a passion for the outdoors and want to help others. They aren't ordered to show up to a call out, they do it because they choose to. There are always members who are paid to be there but mostly they are Sheriff's Deputies or other local law enforcement, and fire departments. They don't have a choice most times, but they do however have a choice to even be a member of the SAR Team in their agencies. It's not a mandatory thing the department forces them into, so again, they choose to be part of it. The military is slightly different obviously, but again the ones in rescue MOS fields chose to take that path. So, full circle, no one is forcing the majority of SAR personnel in America to do what they do and the majority don't have to show up for a call out if they don't want to or don't have the skill set for the mission. When I was in the military we sometimes wished we'd get a call out so we could deploy the skills we trained so hard to perfect.

[@JadedBelle]

I believe that SAR love what they do and choose their job because of it. Every rescue and/or situation can be a unique challenge and the people who thrive on that are the people drawn to this work.

[@williesnyder2899]

@Hike-Camp/Hunt: Is this the name of your SAR operation? Do you work at Everest? Oh, wait, no; you get info from the National Weather Service, so USA. So, a pilot or navigator or radio operator? Person that goes out on a cable?? Do you own the company? Be Safe Out There/Up There! !

[@suestaley844]

The thing people fail to keep in mind is that everyone of those climbers, with the possible exception of Doug Hansen who had CE, would have made it to camp 4 alive had it not been for the storm. The storm was what got the huddle group lost and left Scott Fisher unable to get assistance. Yes Pittman slowed them down but it was the weather that doomed the climbers.

[@GBNationalist]

Would they have been caught out in the storm had she not slowed them down? How much time did they lose? Genuine question.

[@TheGotoGeek]

@@GBNationalistEven with the storm they probably would have made it down off turnaround protocol has been followed.

[@barryjury7289]

As a retired alpine guide i have two points. Number 1 as a guide your first responsibility is to bring your clients home alive. Thats non negotiable. The guides on this particular climb failed to do this. They failed to insure the fixed ropes were in place where they were required. The fact that weren't isn't the fault of any sherpa or anyone else but the various expedition leaders. Number 2 Everest is a dangerous mountain and if you require a guide you have no place being there

[@GP-dz1yi]

Anatoli brought his clients alive, only Scott Fisher the leader of that expedition unfortunately died and he was experienced.

[@phademusic4744]

She climbed the 7 summits, shes one hell of a climber, sadly some people here dont know what that means or how hard it is to achieve

[@adventuresgonewrong]

They say she got dragged/carried up them all. Plus she climbed countless mountains in North America so I guess she paid a lot of people to carry her up every mountain while she brewed cappuccinos and watched movies. 😅

[@svenskanorsk]

To the average person, it means these people are crazy. We should be praising people who do good for others, not adventure seekers.

[@Callidus7SSM]

She “climbed” the 7 summits. Meaning she was babied up the 7 summits. A self-absorbed narcissist, rich girl with no *real* skill.

[@lauratroxel24]

She was made a big deal by Scott Fischer himself. He pulled the sherpa who was to set lines elsewhere to get SHP to that summit. That, left everyone else in a queue for 2 hours!! That, set the stage.

[@alireid5874]

Yeah, the people who say she was unfairly blamed aren't familiar with root cause analysis. Leave Sandy behind when he wasn't pulling her own weight, probably none of this tragedy happens.

[@lauratroxel24]

@alireid5874 Also, SHP almost died that night on the s col in the storm, and she had to be rescued. She's lucky she didn't end up like Yasuko Namba or Beck Weathers.

[@alireid5874]

@lauratroxel24 to be fair, anyone could have died in that storm. They were only 15 mins from camp. They all would have made it, but it was unsafe to keep walking with zero visibility, so they had to hunker down for hours. No oxygen. Beck and Yasuko were alive, but considered "all but dead". So chilling. Wonder if she could have been saved, too

[@Tracyp998]

Glad you mentioned it as that it was I thought happened too

[@adventuresgonewrong]

According to the Sherpa himself, Lopsang, that is not true. He wrote a letter to Outside Magazine saying that Scott never asked him to short-rope anyone and that it was normal practice for him. On his 10 previous expeditions, he short-roped a weaker climber to help them for a while. He also said it was not his job to set those lines, instead it was the job of whichever guide was in front. Plus he gave his ropes to Neal by then so he didn't even have them. He wasn't the reason for the delay.

[@boomer1279]

I’ve seen the documentary about 20 times. Sandy Hill did nothing wrong. If anyone is to blame, it’s Rob Hall and Scott Fisher. But we can’t blame them because they died? They are the ones that should have turned the teams around and forced them down the mountain and the clients they had with them. Anatoli did the best he could in a bad situation, but he should have made more effort to force the climbers down before the summit. Maybe he tried, but we don’t have the full story because Scott and Rob Hall are not here. People hate rich people because they are jealous. Sandy was unfairly attacked. I think she’s awesome.

[@allanfifield8256]

Everyone knowledgeable blames Scott and Rob. Sandy did exhaust one of the head guides.

[@1unsung971]

Look at the South African team's request to switch summit windows with hall and Fischer

[@boomer1279]

@@allanfifield8256So did a few other climbers. Look it up.

[@manhathaway]

People hate rich people because they get useless jobs that rob the populace so they can go 'travel and discover themselves" while everyone else is disposable, used to generate the resources and make life more palpable for these morons.

[@janaslechtova5504]

Wow, what a great, balanced approach to reporting on this woman and her story. Thank you for your impressive work on this channel!

[@stevet9938]

The accusation that Jon K pointed the finger solely at Sandy is absolute rubbish. The book is multi faceted and details the numerous reasons that played a part in the disaster such as the weather, decisions made or not made by Rob Hall, Scott Fischer.... the decision by Anatoli to climb without oxygen despite being a guide and being asked by Scott to climb with oxygen.... the decision not to stick with the 2pm turn back time.... the interplay between Rob Hall and Doug Hansen, Doug having been turned back just below the summit a year earlier.... the Head Sherpa on Scott's team not being there to help fix ropes high on the mountain which caused long delays. Regarding Sandy, Jon K in his book states that Scott's head Sherpa wasted a lot of energy and was unable to fulfil some of his duties because he was short roping Sandy up the mountain.... that claim has been out there for decades and has not been refuted. In fact Beck Weathers, Neal B and others have confirmed that claim. What Jon K says in his book is that that was a contributing factor along with a number of other decisions/factors that led to the disaster.... he does not lay it all on Sandy. Into thin air is a great read, I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the events on Everest in 1996.

[@rachelvanbora4689]

Absolutely. Jon tried to analyse all the mistakes that contributed to the tragedy, including his own. Into Thin Air is not an attack piece, it is a combination of travelogue, eyewitness acount and soul-searching...I really felt no hate for Sandy, Anatoli, or any other person involved after reading it...just sadness.

[@HeatherHolt]

Seems like a lot of people are just crying “but sexism!” when she surely seems to have played a role in the tragedy, along with others.

[@gregbarry5875]

She did not "conquer Everest" She was dragged up Everest, and then dragged down it.

[@brutusbuckeye25]

While she was a fool and had incredible hubris, there is collective blame in this instance.

[@aliciamazingg]

What a great dive into this story, thank you!

[@ghtaboma]

An eye opener. I didn’t know Sandy had that much prior experience climbing. Nowadays, anyone can go if they can pay.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

It's a huge part that is conveniently left out of her story.

[@justinedse8435]

Damn, that should be illegal.

[@williesnyder2899]

@ghtaboma: One of my coworkers had a big toenail peeled clean back because of not wearing the proper shoes. It certainly got her attention in a hurty! ! I had another coworker who claimed to ice climb and deadlift 400+ lbs. I’m not sure about the ice climbing, but he’d probably be questionable to be around or climb with. I don’t believe he deadlifted heavy. He, I know for a fact, made up a cruel story about someone and there was an investigation and he had a big chuckle like it was a funny game with someone to hurt! He quit work because his boss friend wouldn’t grant him vacation on short notice. But he also didn’t have to work anyway, as his family had money. “Work,” mostly goofing off, was something to do like a hobby. People with a lot of money can do anything for enjoyment, and have help to learn hobbies and sports and even languages. They also take the nicest pictures and have clean clothing even after activity. (That NEVER happens to me!) Another reason that I don’t think the guy actually I’ve climbed is that he never had bent fingers with tape holding them together (I dislocated two adjacent fingers at the base knuckles, geez, twenty(?) years ago, and they still bother me if I tweak them wrong!) And, this gets to the toenail issue, he not once showed up after talking about ice climbing, ice climbing…with torn fingernails or a nail that was bent back or a scraped hand. I just don’t think that even with time and money he ever really did any kind of climbing! Lying was a hobby too. People can get really good at sports. I am surprised sometimes! The guy who didn’t give that other guy his short notice vacation was supposedly really good at handball, thought I had a hard time picturing it. I didn’t see it ever, but he wasn’t known to lie. I just can’t see him moving around quickly, that’s all. Well, it must be fun to travel about and pursue sports hobbies. But it’s not for me. I mean climbing isn’t for me. I tried it once, and I’m glad I did because I found out test it wasn’t for me. If I was ever to fall down a crevice I’d sure say thank you to anyone who went and fished me out! But I don’t intend to fall into a crack and get stuck all broken at the bottom, wherever that is, and die slowly in the cold! Or go ice climbing with a rich jerk. He probably Never once really ice climbed! But I don’t want to lose my grip and come sliding down the ice with those little ice axe hammers making that fingernails on the chalkboard squeal sound!! I hate that sound! Well, some people sure like to climb on stuff! And tell stories too. As long as no one gets hurt or killed.

[@Za7a7aZ]

Think I missed the part where she did something which made people blamed her for...somebody to die on everest?

[@Fleurbunny]

Instead of setting the ropes, Mountain Madness Sherpa was dragging her on a sled up the mountain because she was too exhausted, AC’s Sherpa couldn’t do it alone.

[@chrisfetner332]

She was only one factor slowing the group down in their climb. Too many people. Terrible storm. Bad decisions not to turn back.

[@Kalivahcide]

This sums it up best, in my opinion. It's convenient and easy to blame one person, when really, the blame falls on so many people.

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌

[@dosgos]

I sensed she was being thrown under the bus. From a purely strategic point of view, bad weather and mistakes by leadership throughout seemed most critical, but those are not particularly exciting stories. A wealthy New Yorker, however, makes for the perfect villain. This is a good opportunity to review the case again.

[@montananerd8244]

Love your old school journalistic approach, I must admit I've been on the "villains of mountaineering" bandwagon before & the reality is always a much more complex story than most are willing to research & produce. Another great job!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

And yet there's still those who insist she's still the villain. 😅

[@k.elysium6819]

Every time something goes horribly wrong, people always need to find someone to blame, even when the situation would be the same without their involvement.

[@ankylosaruswrecks3189]

Thank you for making this.

[@leonaheraty3760]

Thanks for sharing. Love your channel. Happy New Year! 😊

[@maryc4152]

The quality of this video is incredible! Your audio has improved a ton!! I love it. It’s clear that you are working very hard to improve upon this already wonderful series you have going. Thank you for the watch! Also - I am obsessed with Everest and anything having to do with it. I’m terrified of heights and seriously doubt you will ever find me attempting to traverse a mountain. But boy do I love hearing about it! Thank you ❤️

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching! And yes, always striving to improve things, so stay tuned!

[@TXMEDRGR]

I've only read/heard a few things about the expeditions to climb Mt. Everest but the system for permits seems to need an overhaul. None of the stores make me want to climb the mountain. Thanks for another interesting story.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

The book doesn’t make Sandy out as the villain. Almost everyone is criticised at some point in the book, for some reason or reasons, Sandy included. It seems to be only Sandy that says this and makes herself out to be the victim. Sandy was dragged and or carried down Annapurna. Sandy cannot claim to have conquered the “7 summits” because she was partially short roped up (so dragged) and then she didn’t do her own descent. She was rescued and dragged or carried down to camp 4.

[@ark359]

Very interesting 👍 thank you for making these videos and have a good Christmas 😊 watching from the UK

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching! Hope you have a great Christmas too!

[@cantbendknee]

Women are burdened or to put it more succinctly expected to be openly emotional. Take Amanda Knox for example. One of the things that the media highlighted was the fact that she didn't cry outside the apartment after her room mate Meredith Kercher was killed, they neglected to add that Amanda didn't find the body, wasn't sure what was happening and had only been in Italy for 5 weeks so had not spent much time with her room mate. Women are vilified though as they must show their emotions at all times whereas men are exempt.

[@JulieAVL]

So true!! Sandy was likely exhausted and a bit shell shocked right after the rescue. People probably criticized her outfit, too. And, yeah, agree re Amanda.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

That was something I never considered, even though it should be obvious - how the death of her friends and trauma of almost dying affected her.

[@redfo3009]

Omg really?

[@micheletetley6142]

Oh good something to listen too. I love your stories :) I am sure I will love it . Merry Christmas!!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching!

[@micheletetley6142]

You're welcome!! Look forward to them :) @@adventuresgonewrong

[@fyrish100]

Wow , I thought sandy hill had never set foot in the mountains before , that she was just rich enough to pay her way to the top , just shows

[@soupernova66]

I recently found your channel and instantly fell in love with your narration style! Keep up the great work :) also MT. EVEREST ADVENTURES ARE MY FAVORITE TO HEAR ABOUT 🎉🎉

[@adventuresgonewrong]

YAY MORE EVEREST NERDS!!! Welcome!

[@handduggraverdronline]

She definitely my favorite. Wish she had more free time to make more videos but I still love her style

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I love them too, more coming!

[@ChiefSlacc]

@adventuresgonewrong fellow Everest nerd here to say: I've recently found your channel and I've been enjoying your research and delivery style a lot! Hope you and yours are having a peaceful holiday season; and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2024!

[@lunesnieves]

I much enjoyed reading Krakauer’s account of this tragedy, but it’s important to understand that his narrative is just his perspective - it’s hardly ‘absolute truth’. He also laid blame on Boukreev who actually helped save a number of stranded climbers that day. My sense is that everyone on that climb was there as a result of their personal choice, and when the storm hit each of them tried their best to survive - no one is to blame for someone else’s death.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

True, and even Jon said later that many of them had different memories on what really happened.

[@Garfield3d]

I agree with @lunesnieves . I didn't get the feeling that Krakauer was blaming Sandy specifically in his book, but rather that there were a lot of contributors to the 1996 deaths and she more of a symptom rather than the reason for the disastrous expedition. If there was anyone that Krakauer blamed, he centered more on: 1.) Other inexperienced expedition teams clogging the mountain, 2.) Traffic jams on the mountain, and 3.) Slightly implying other teams poaching supplies or communicating poorly. The soundbite at 4:03 sounds like either a hot take or taken out of context. Krakauer was definitely unflattering with his description of her, but he was also really critical of Anatoli Boukreev (who gets blamed like Oskar Schindler for not saving enough people in WW2). It doesn't help that Krakauer has a narrative recitation that comes off as blaming a whole lot of things (like Beck Weather for... uh, sitting; the South Africans; the Taiwanese, etc...). I agree that Krakauer underplays her climbing experience, but he doesn't go deep on anyone's climbing history outside of the expedition leaders and guides with Mountain Madness and Adventure Consultants. At worst, Krakauer Sandy kinda comes off as a symptom of a broader problem, but he's pretty light on the social commentary with Into Thin Air and not really a big focus of the story. At the end of the day, I think a lot of people run into Sandy Pittman's story with an agenda in the back of their head. I think it's a stretch to read Into Thin Air and come away thinking that she was the reason so many people died. If anything, I think it's a bit of a social commentary that people can come away from the book feeling like someone specific needs to be blamed. Unfortunately, with a disaster like the 1996 expedition, people find it easier to blame people instead of concepts, but that's not really a statement that the book ever makes, and I don't think it's a statement that readers need to make either.

[@dendroaspis8378]

Krakauer unnecessarily pointed fingers at quite a few people. Real sensasionalist crap. Read "Everest Untold" by Patrick Conroy for a more unbiased angle on the 1996 tragedies.

[@fast_richard]

@@Garfield3d Krakauer couldn't go too deep into the experience of the others on the expedition. It would have made it plain just how much less qualified he was than anyone else there.

[@RED-cy7ig]

I read the book and other books regarding this incident. They do portray her as spoiled but did not blame her for everything.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Krakauer does say there we’re a few factors that contributed to the tragedy but what he caused by going after her in his book (and the magazine article) was the vitriol towards her that has continued for almost 30yrs. Just looked at some of the comments here and other places (and I don’t even allow the really vile ones). There is a huge segment of people out there that still blame her solely for the deaths of everyone.

[@jmw3581]

I don't think most people blame her solely. Everyone that made a choice to be there holds some responsibility. But I do think she required a lot of help and if you need that much help you should not be there.

[@gracie2375]

Excellent video! Thanks. More like this please.

[@georgemallory797]

Mountaineering, by its very nature, is an incredibly selfish thing. I can see why Sandy's husband divorced her.

[@Calibri57]

As a woman climber from the late seventies through the 2010s I can verify that women were often vilified in climbing, especially those women who were assertive or, god forbid! , ambitious. I wasn’t on the Everest climb, but it isn’t far fetched to imagine that she was subjected to the kind of double standards I experienced on my own climbs.

[@SingPandaProductions]

Yes! I agree

[@Kimmaline]

This was my thought. She is very self-possessed, and women like that are often demonized (I speak from experience.)

[@timpatrick2109]

Men usually are drawn to, and go out of their way to help out women and give them proper guidance to ensure their safety. When any person becomes demanding and seemingly ungrateful, all bets are off. This is not a critique of Sandy.

[@ozwrangler.c]

If I'm unsure about sexism, I just change gender used.... rich, ambitious, much younger sexual partner, coffee-obsessed, business-owner, not beautiful-looking, somewhat selfish.... Men typically aren't criticised for any of that

[@tonisaunders3420]

Well done! Nicely put together.

[@jjzap2935]

You have main stream media wanting.. good job Stacie, you're gifted!!! One thing is for sure if my boss/friend/brother from another mother Scott Fischer was included it was the best party on the planet! It's really astounding what he assembled through living his dream. Maybe ultimately it was just the universe saying "you're having too much fun"..??

[@divineinpurple9058]

It is interesting how the only thing I knew about Sandy Hill until this video was the glamour shots, nothing about her remarkable accomplishments. Seems like this happens to a lot of women.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Same here. No one really talked about her beyond the superficial socialite stuff.

[@ruralmillie]

a few people's comments have tried to remind other commentors that due to her being short roped to the top by the same sherpa who's duty it was to fix the lines for everyone to use to get to the top he couldn't fix those ropes. That delayed everyone's accent by about 6hrs. That means they all had to wait for her to reach the top . Then the sherpa had to come back and hopefully fix the ropes. Whether she was a experienced climber or not was not the point. She put her self interest above everyone else, including the tired sherpa.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

The Sherpa himself says this wasn't the reason for the delay. That the LEAD guides who were up ahead sat down waiting for him instead of fixing ropes themselves. Normal procedure he says, was whoever was first, fix the ropes. Also, one of Hall's Sherpas sat up there with them, refusing to fix lines because he was apparently angry. So there is much more to the story that most people either don't know about or forget.

[@domodoeslife4741]

But why wasn't he there helping? What was he doing that preoccupied him and wasted all his energy. Is it common to pull up climbers. Why did this particular climber get special treatment for extended period of time. Ultimately it comes down to leadership but something must've been in play for this Sherpa to act the way they did.

[@Tenebarum]

​@@domodoeslife4741Because she paid more money.

[@pindrop.]

@adventuresgonewrong have you considered that the sherpa who refused to fix the lines could have been angry because he realised they shouldn't be carrying an unfit person up to the summit. That the time lost waiting and energy expended on helping her was compromising the safety of the group. Of course, the ultimate responsibility rests with the expedition leaders for making such calls, not Sandy. However, I feel people hold Sandy in poor regard because she doesn't acknowledge that she was a liability on the climb, they also question her lack of respect and empathy for the people that saved her life and the people who died.

[@uncoolmartin460]

@@pindrop. So, I'm getting that multiple people (incl a sulky sherpa) sat on top of the mountain, waiting for one sherpa to pull one climber to the top causing a 6 hour delay. And that because of them waiting for the sherpa, this compromised the safety of the group? essentially saying "f you, I'm gonna let you all die to prove a point". IF safety is paramount, then sense dictates that ALL hands should do what is needed to get the job done. The lead guides & angry sherpa that refused to fix ropes is probably more responsible for the delay than the one pulling the climber, therefore compromising the safety of the group. It sounds like everyone was relying on one sherpa to do all the work ... no wonder he was tired. (This isn't intended as a direct knock on you, it's just the general impression I get from most of the negative comments here.)

[@bicivelo]

New to this channel. Subbed and liked. Keep up the good work!

[@koriw1701]

This is one of the most balanced and fair commentaries I've seen about this case. You should all be very proud of yourselves for the time you spent researching and reporting on this tragedy. Thank you.

[@matthewwright3930]

People on Pittman 🤬🤬🤬 People on Hanson 🤫🤫🤫

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Interesting eh?

[@shewearsfunnyhat]

It sounds like sexism played a big part in blaming her. A moka pot is something she could easily transport in her pack. I have one and use it frequently. Its my favorite camp fire coffee maker.

[@all-to-Him-I-owe100]

Love your way of telling these stories! I don’t know much about climbing, but someone who likes to summit ginormous mountains certainly is not my definition of a bored house wife!!! Like what?!!! That is my definition of a thrill seeking adventurer with a flair for the dangerous!

[@philipr1567]

If Sandy Hill had been a selfish liability, surely this would have been noticed when she climbed previously. I don't recall hearing or reading about anyone who climbed with her on her previous six top peak ascents agreeing with Jon Krakauer or relating negative anecdotes about her.

[@carolbradley4845]

I’m really glad to have stumbled across this video. I read Jon Krakauer’s book years ago and like most people bought into his depiction of Sandy being heartless, cruel, privileged, ungrateful, etc. It never even dawned on me that the author may have painted her in a bad light to generate more conflict, because conflict drives the story forward. I wish Sandy would write about her experiences. Thanks again for this video! It’s been very eye opening.

[@chrisl7839]

He was NOT unfair to Pittman. This video is guilty of bias, and Sandy bears some responsibility for the events of that day. She needs to finally accept it.

[@hollycohorn8736]

I read the book too just last week… I really didn’t get this vilification of Sandy. Heartless and cruel? Where on earth did it say that? He said she was privileged and a big personality … and she was. But he credited her for not considering herself to be at a higher level of mountaineering than she was. I never got the impression that he thought anything was her fault.

[@fast_richard]

@@chrisl7839 Krakauer was less qualified to be on that expedition than anyone else on that mountain. He survived by pure dumb luck. I would not trust his opinion on anything.

[@Mt.Everest.]

⁠@@fast_richardKrakauer has climbed with Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin he is a hell-of-a-climber! He just happens to write

[@TXST4Life]

Krakauer wasn't the only 1996 climber to criticize her. This is revisionist history.

[@Mt.Everest.]

Sandy would not have made it if she did get that shot of DEX in her leg!! everyone forgets that ,,,,

[@letsrevieweverything144]

Neil Beidleman was one of the heros on Everest. He took charge after Scott was gone and kept the group from walking off a cliff.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yes. And according to Lena's account, Klev the client really stepped up in this moment as well. No one really mentions him at all but she attributes her survival partly to him. She said Klev was really calm and rational in the absolute worst moments.

[@jjhammond1]

There is a KZbin video of Beck Weathers giving a fire & brimstone speech where he says that Rob Hall insisted that Weathers wait on the Balcony for Rob to return from the summit hours later. However, in Storm Over Everest, Weathers says that Hall had first offered to send him back down to the South Col with some Sherpas but Beck didn’t want to go. He was nearly blind, so what on earth was he going to do sitting on the Balcony in the death zone all that time? Weathers’ own hubris and stupidity is what lost him his appendages but everyone assails him as a ‘hero’, and Sandy Hill is the one who catches most of the shade. She was much more qualified to climb that mountain than most of the guided clients are today.

[@ZzXZ636]

Beck Weathers is considered a hero because he was left for dead , got up and walked nearly blind back to camp . People blaming Sandy for everything is of course wrong .

[@blackiris3822]

You left out some key info that impacted climbers' views. One was that she helicoptered off the mountain, leaving behind others also in need. She didn't thank the Sherpas who tried to rescue her. As is often evident from these tales of those with singular goals, professionals who are in competition are often blind to those around them.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I'd be wanting to get the heck off the mountain ASAP too if I just about died on it. People underestimate the trauma they were all going through after surviving that harrowing night. I don't judge any of them for decisions they made after.

[@sierraleonediamondexplorat2080]

@@adventuresgonewrong yes and forget everyone else. very chivalrous...

[@BohoAstronaut]

How many people can be taken in a helicopter though? Would you give up your seat if it meant you dying?

[@MarlinDarrah]

Of course the weather, Hall's decision, etc. created the setting for tragedy. But self-serving, self-aggrandizing Sandy was partly responsible for the loss of lives in 1996, no question. She was out for herself and her own own fame. For hours she was short-roped to a Sherpa that should have been setting ropes ahead of the climbers (with another Sherpa that refused to set ropes alone), causing huge delays for all. Do the research and you'll see her nasty little part in this.

[@johnkilty1419]

I see the entire Everest climbing industry as stain on the mountain. What has been left behind by the bucket list climbers is unforgivable. Not much different than Trophy hunting. An opportunity to brag. At someone's or somethings expense.

[@deesmith4800]

Most people who climb Everest tend to be self-serving, self-aggrandizing people. It's far from the best mountain to climb. It's a 'oh look at me, I climbed Everest' mountain. The comment @johnkilty1419 made is accurate.

[@Paula7379]

No one forced any of those climbers to climb that mountain they made their decision to do so. When a man hates a women based on their own opinion of that women that man can make that woman's life a living hell and that is what I think has happened here. I think the author of that book never liked Sandy the moment he first saw her and that was the beginning of the end of any type of working friendship. How you can blame one person for all that took place on that mountain baffles me how people think. If the way Sandy made her coffee filled the pages of that book it just proves what I said anything she did on that mountain was a complete turn of for that author and he just could not stand her at all. Take responsibility for you own actions no one told any of those people to go up that mountain so take your blame and blame yourself. I do not think we will ever know the full truth of what took place on the mountain because we were not there we can only listen to each side of peoples story.

[@HeatherHolt]

Have you read the book to have this opinion?

[@billzimmerman5464]

It seems that the root of the disaster should be the leaders. They both broke their own rules for turning around. Throw in a freak storm, and all were subject to criticism. Sandy and several other climbers were coddled due to their financial significance. Hall and Fischer went out of their way to get media saavy people that could help their business. Krakauer and Pittman were good examples. If Pittman hadn't been short roped to the summit, the ropes would have been set much earlier and several hours of delays wouldn't have happened. Perhaps she would have made it anyway. In a total fubar like that, there are plenty of contributors to the end result.

[@qtip6736]

I almost skipped this video due to the title. I was afraid you hust go for a vilian angle but was very glad to see you didn´t. I think the main reason people love to blaime her is due to the fact that she represents a class that might buy their way to a summit. But like you mention, this lady knew what she was doing and had a full right to be there. Great video

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Glad you gave it a chance.

[@whogon]

"Married a non-mountaineer" what an insanely odd way to describe someone's husband

[@Witchy_Reads]

I recently re-read Krakauer's book and watched the 2015 movie based on it. In the book, I wouldn't say he "vilified" her, but he certainly didn't do her any favors either. I do think he spent way more time talking about her supposed "amminities" then he should have. I do think it was a huge mistake to have short-ropped her as that added to the delays since Lopsang was to, according to Krakauer, go ahead of the group to fix ropes. I find it interesting that there is a quick blink and you'll miss it section of his book that speaks to his involvement causing these experienced guides to make the bad decisions they did. The fact is, with Krakauer there, the "world was watching." His article was going to make or break their livelihood and so they made decisions they wouldn't have otherwise. This is explicitly stated in his book, but only briefly so as not to cast himself in any blame. The fact is, many mistakes were made and no one person is completely absolved of their bad decisions that day.

[@alireid5874]

Sandy was sending live reports from the mountain, she was also reporting

[@Bobo-hd6qn]

It was not Hills fault. It was Rob Hall that got them killed. He ignored his turn around time. It just that simple. And he left beck sitting in the death zone. Scott Fischer messed up too. But his life was the only one on his team that was lost.

[@mariavieira6438]

I love your videos from the beginning….. but you are now a professional! Congratulations!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you for this video! I briefly recall the 1996 Everest disaster (I was young), but based on this, she was unjustifiably vilified.

[@toscadonna]

Kinda like Eve getting blamed for the Fall of Man.😂 I’m not surprised that they needed to blame a woman for the bad decisions of the men in charge.

[@user-sy2jy1si8f]

Every good story needs a villain. For this role, Pittman was an easy choice. Objectively, she did nothing wrong. Her task as a client in a commercial expedition was to follow her guides and to return from the mountain alive, which she managed to do. It was Rob Hall's responsibility to prevent loss of life among his climbers. To blame it on some rank-and-file client of another expedition is absurd.

[@leannemo7382]

🙄

[@abztractboxingandstuff8384]

I find it extremely rich and hypocritical for krakaour to blame her, when he was updating his site just like she was and when he cashed in with a book unlike sandy. She wasn’t the team leader and according to most people she was pulling her weight just as much as anyone.

[@susiepittman601]

I've heard about her on other channels. Thanks for covering her.

[@larryknapp2012]

I read Jon Krakauer's book a few years ago and I admit that I don't really remember all the details. However, my recollection is that he never blamed Sandy Hill Pittman for what happened. I do recall where he wrote that she had been short roped at one point and assisted by a sherpa but there were so many factors involved with the tragedy, primarily the weather. I do recall that there had been some eyebrows raised when she zipped off to Kathmandu immediately afterwards to a nice hotel which gave the impression that she didn't have any heart for her fellow team members but that's unrelated to the tragedy on the mountain. I'm not sure why she was claiming in the interview that Krakauer blamed her, that sounds like a misrepresentation of the book to me.

[@lepausecafe]

When I first read Krakauer’s book I took it all as completely factual, but rereading it as an adult it’s crazy how biased and sensationalized his narrative is. More than 20 years later I still remember his anecdote of Hill making a cappuccino on Everest, but I had no idea she was actually an accomplished climber. Thanks for your insight!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I was right there with you, I thought the same until I started really looking into it more.

[@jimmirogers3485]

She was not accomplished.... she was short roped up every mountain

[@teijaflink2226]

The cappuccino story is just ridiculous, seems like she had a coffee pot the same size everyone else had, she just had cappucino powder.

[@Donlightyear]

One thing is you don’t climb Mount Everest without knowing there is a chance that you can not come back

[@6dicksonb]

When she said some people turn to drugs or alcohol and she turns to the mountains. Does she realise that most people don’t have the choice to go to another country, have time off work and fund that kind of excursion. It is a luxury to have that coping skill

[@andrethompson2034]

Sounds like she was unfairly criticized blamed for the poor decisions the lead guides made.

[@jeffreycarman2185]

Going into this I knew nothing about this expedition or about Sandy, nor had I read Jon Krakauer’s book on the topic. With the kind of social media influencer climbing that was going on during the climbing season this year, and the kind of exploitative nature of for-profit climbing, along with damage and harm done to these delicate ecosystem at the extreme altitudes maybe Krakauer want to portray Sandy as a thrill-seeking rich adventurer because it really is this type of person who is causing the social harms (like the government corruption inherent to climbing), the garbage heaps, and the exploitation of paying local porters and Sherpas so little and asking them to risk so much for what amounts to a vanity project for a wealthy person. I don’t know that Sandy fits this bill, but it as a seemingly wealthy person she is a very easy target.

[@luannedimaggio7025]

Thanks for giving us this perspective.

[@mariahlehman9777]

Two trained guides, experienced sherpas and seasoned climbers but let’s lay the blame at this random clients feet because she’s a pretty young woman and we hate that so clearly her fault. If she shouldn’t have been short roped, why was she? If they should t have carried heavy items up the mountain, why did they? Like, a whole lot of other peoples responsibility has to be overlooked to try to pretend this was her fault.

[@CheriL25]

Um... I think you missed the most crucial part. One of the biggest problems was that she insisted on the summit, but was not prepared, so she was short-roped to the top. The sherpa who chose to do that was the same one responsible for the fixed ropes, which wasn't done. She should never have been on the mountain, and took up more than her fair share of resources.

[@Outoinen]

The more I learn about that night, the more I see Krakauer as a liar. He made people look bad when it wasn't needed. His story sounds like a personal vendetta against the people who he doesn't like. Sandy deserves her story to be told truthfully.

[@teijaflink2226]

Or to make money. Makes me wonder if he himself has a bigger blame but didn't want people to blame it on him, was easier to put blame on someone like Sandy.

[@well_i_liked_it]

Have you even read Krakauer's book?! He didn't blame her. What a completely ridiculous take.

[@jackprier7727]

Also, if you read Anatoly's great book, Anatoly went back up from the S Col to help, but Krakauer was just "too tired"-

[@danshepard5083]

Let's not forget that ​Anatoli was an experienced paid guide on that expedition, while Krakauer was a paying client.

[@iridium7554]

I know a little of high mountain climbing, and from what I understand about 1996 tragedy - and other tragedies that happened there - that violent, sudden change in the weather, altitude sickness, deathfalls and avalanches may claim even the most experienced lifes. Finding out who's guilty should support the effort of avoiding repeating the same mistakes in the future. And it really baffles me how someone who just avoided death and has to deal with the death of others is expected to present "properly" to the camera, say the right words, yada yada... like, come on.

[@ByondTheNorm]

Love the video…but one minor thing. Aconcagua is not one of the more difficult 7 peaks. It’s hard yes, due to the insane elevation but it’s also on of the only ones that requires no mountaineering experience. I know because I’m in the process of planning a trip to summit Aconcagua and I’m am certainly no mountaineer (although I hope to be one day!) love the videos tho! Thanks for creating them for our enjoyment!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Very cool, thanks for clarifying. Hope you have a great trip!

[@hanblan]

Very appreciative of this balanced perspective. I’m glad someone is speaking about the double standard that female mountaineers face and recognising that by todays standard she is definitely qualified enough to climb Everest. It’s also interesting to note that although the internet barely existed the concept of cancellation was still alive and well…Depressing how misguided and sexist her ‘cancellation’ was, especially since it was seemingly undeserved, at a difficult point in her life too. Everyone pointing the finger at her should be incredibly ashamed in hindsight.

[@scallopohare9431]

Phooey! Listen to her. I, I, I. Zero about anyone else.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

What do you think of Sandy Hill? 30 years later, was she unjustly vilified, does she deserve everything that has come her way or should we all just move on and forget about the 1996 disaster on Mount Everest? For another Everest video, check this one out on her team leader, Scott Fischer 🏔 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4K4poGHqKuFr80si=IRzelG4Yl8K6iHT3 🏔

[@aylasurfdiva]

She was not at fault

[@melodymacken9788]

Unless you were there, I don't think it's possible to comment. Read the books by the people who were there.

[@DrunkComments]

​@@aylasurfdivaahahahahah It was exercise for the sherpas soul..

[@budyza180]

Maybe I missed something... but how _specifically_ was she "blamed"? Yes, she had a coffee maker. Yes, she didn't thank her rescuers. Yes, she was doing it for publicity. But what did Krakauer and the others actually blame her for? Did she push anyone off the mountain? Did she endanger anyone? Did anyone who died, die because of anything Hill did?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

@@budyza180 Your guess is as good as mine! They blamed her for the deaths but she didn't do anything directly to cause anyone's death that I've seen.

[@WhenAnimalsAttack]

Amazing production, my friend !

[@rosswatson9144]

I I read the book, and hiked extensively throughout the Himalayas. I think what happened was inevitable; it’s what happens when Everest becomes just another checkmark on the bucket list for the rich and famous. Once money is involved, all the pieces are in place for the hauling up to the top of the world anybody who can put down the money. Respect for the mountain is lost, and in evitable consequences ensue.

[@JulieAVL]

Also, what did she allegedly do that caused anything bad to happen? Great video!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

She's blamed for the deaths of 8 people by many folks.

[@JulieAVL]

@@adventuresgonewrong but what actions or inactions do they say she did/didn’t do?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

One thing is that they blame her for being short-roped to the sherpa, who was supposed to be fixing lines on the last steep section. They say that slowed the whole group down and got them to the summit later. They say there was immense pressure to get her to the top for the company to be successful.

[@always_b_natural703]

Apparently, she made coffee, but didn't do it to order like a good little secretary. And definitely not in the required miniskirt/garter combination.

[@boomer1279]

@@adventuresgonewrongThe fixed ropes should have been there in advance. they were sent up to do it but they did not. The sherpas were disorganized and failed to do their jobs.

[@jipangoo]

Sandy is actually a world class athlete and climber