Has Everest become too commercialized? | Thom Pollard, Everest Historian | Ep. 028

Everest still a climber's ultimate test, or has it become too crowded and controversial?

This week on The Backcountry Manifesto, Everest historian, climber, and 1999 Mallory expedition participant Tom Pollard joins host Hayden Sammak to share his gripping firsthand stories. We dive into the evolution of guiding from pre-1996 pioneers to today's high-stakes operators, and the raw power of Sherpa climbers. Plus, breakdowns of key landmarks like the Hillary Step and South Col, the perils of avalanches and bottlenecks, debunking myths around "Into Thin Air," and reflections on what Everest truly represents beyond the hype. If you're fascinated by high-altitude adventure, mountaineering history, or the human spirit against nature's extremes, this episode is your summit push.

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 | Intro
00:00:40 | Tom Pollard's Everest Ascents and Summit Success
00:00:57 | From Ice Climbing Newbie to High-Altitude Veteran
00:06:53 | Everest's Transformation: Guiding and Commercialization Begin
00:11:03 | Mapping the Mountain: Key Landmarks from Base to Summit
00:18:18 | Inside the Death Zone: Where Survival Hangs by a Thread
00:20:35 | Khumbu Icefall: Unpredictable Killer of the Lower Slopes
00:26:11 | Sherpa Strength: Heroes, Humans, and Heavy Loads
00:29:40 | Birth of Commercial Everest: Pre-1996 Pioneers
00:30:06 | 1996 Disaster: Into Thin Air and the Boom That Followed
00:35:09 | Nepal vs. China: Permits, Vetting, and Renegade Operators
00:46:03 | Meet Mike: The Average Modern Everest Climber
00:54:54 | Everest's True Allure: Purity, Friends, and Inner Discovery
01:00:25 | Advice for Dreamers: Who Should (and Shouldn't) Climb
01:05:12 | Summit at Dawn: Moonlit Triumph and Ashes in the Wind

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
   / @everestmystery  
   • Everest at 19! YouTube Influencer Ryan Mit...  

CONNECT!
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto

PARTNERS
GRAB OUR FIRST EVER WHISKEY BARREL PICK! bit.ly/ReveriesManifesto

CREDITS
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
Production Assistance by John Stock
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025
#podcast #everest #mountaineering