Why was Edmund Hillary upset with Hall & Ball for leading people to the summit?

Why was Edmund Hillary upset with Hall & Ball for leading people to the summit?

• A. Because he believed guiding unskilled climbers to the top for money showed disrespect for the mountain.
• B. Because they failed to pay Sherpas fairly.
• C. Because they violated local regulations.
• D. Because they neglected safety protocols.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the ethics of mountaineering and showing respect for the mountain. Edmund Hillary believed Everest should be approached with humility and care, not turned into a money-making venture. When Hall & Ball led unskilled climbers to the summit for profit, it suggested that summiting was something to be bought or sold rather than earned through preparation and caution. This commercialization could also encourage risky climbs and erode the reverence people hold for the mountain. The other options don’t capture the core issue implied by Hillary’s stance. It’s not primarily about paying Sherpas, breaking local rules, or skipping safety steps in this context—the focus is on the profit-driven aspect of guiding inexperienced climbers to the top and the disrespect that implies toward the mountain and the tradition of mountaineering.

The main idea here is the ethics of mountaineering and showing respect for the mountain. Edmund Hillary believed Everest should be approached with humility and care, not turned into a money-making venture. When Hall & Ball led unskilled climbers to the summit for profit, it suggested that summiting was something to be bought or sold rather than earned through preparation and caution. This commercialization could also encourage risky climbs and erode the reverence people hold for the mountain.

The other options don’t capture the core issue implied by Hillary’s stance. It’s not primarily about paying Sherpas, breaking local rules, or skipping safety steps in this context—the focus is on the profit-driven aspect of guiding inexperienced climbers to the top and the disrespect that implies toward the mountain and the tradition of mountaineering.