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Everest Death Puts Spotlight on 'Climber's Code'

NPR

Published May 26, 2006 at 6:21 AM MDT

Last week, a team trying to reach the top of Mount Everest passed a dying Englishman, David Sharp, who was on his way down.

Sharp had run out of oxygen about 1,000 feet from the summit and couldn't go on by himself -- but the ascending team left him there, with a few cans of oxygen, and continued their own summit attempt.

Alex Chadwick speaks with Ed Viesturs, one of the world's most accomplished mountaineers, about the code of ethics when it comes to assisting fellow climbers.