15

In the SEVENTIES the death figure was said to be 1:50, not now. That was the beginning of trekking and people were not educated about altitude.

16

Post 15: well pointed out - if it was 1 in 50 visitors now, then all the higher trekking areas would look like a battle field with the dead and dying everywhere - that would be rather off putting.

17

Thanks for all your input guys, I really appreciate it.
I've been searching a bit more and seen some similar articles.

When trekkers first started going to Mount Everest, about one in every 50 died.
http://www.unlockingthearchives.rgs.org/resources/documents/The%20death%20zone%20worksheet2.pdf

With the advent of fixed ropes and more experienced guides Everest has become much safer, reducing the death rate to less than 1 in 50 for the past decade.
http://www.everesthiphop.com/EHH/

When trekkers first started going to Everest one in 50 died.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/everest.shtml

According to Dr Eric Weiss, when trekkers first started going to the Everest base camp, 1 in 50 died. Nowadays, thanks to awareness of high altitude problems, that figure is 1 in about 10-50,000.
http://library.thinkquest.org/10131/nepal_sickness.html

The death percentage on Everest is currently around 5%. You can do a lot to minimize the statistics for yourself. First from all, no mountain is safe. The Mount Blanc area suffers 50-60 deaths every year.
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/survivalrules.htm

In fact, in the last six years the Everest summit/fatality rate is less than 2% - or 1 death in 50 successful ascents.
http://www.explorersweb.com/everest_k2/news.php?id=14962

Conclusion:

• About one in every 50 died, going to Mount Everest NOT Everest Base Camp (some articles are wrong including mountainzone.com and library.thinkquest.org, etc.
• However, they should change the article from 'When trekkers first started going to Mount Everest' to 'When climbers first started going to Mount Everest'.

Thanks

18

For sure the statistics for Ktm Chi shops was much worse.