Latest news with #CaradocJones
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Adventure tourism is turning into ‘complete circus', says first Welshman to climb Everest
The first Welshman to climb Mount Everest has said that the adventure tourism industry is becoming a 'complete circus'. Caradoc Jones, 66, told BBC News that the bucket list quest to conquer Everest's peak has 'turned into a complete circus and has almost nothing to do with real mountaineering '. Mr Jones summited the world's highest mountain 30 years ago for between £2,000 and £3,000. The Welshman from Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, tackled the 8,848.86m challenge on 23 May 1995 with his Danish climbing partner, Michael Knakkergaard Jørgensen. Mr Jones started the climb, which he described as a 'personal battle', from the Tibet area, encountering a storm around the 8,300m mark. The mountaineer warned that climbing risks losing 'the element of a real adventure' as mountains become popular tourist attractions, reported BBC News. According to Climbing Magazine, the average climber will fork out between $45,000 (£33,387) and $75,000 (£55,645) on an Everest climb in 2025. Mr Jones said: 'People are quietly doing much harder things in every corner of the world and that's where the heart of mountaineering and climbing lies I think.' In April, it was reported that Nepal would pass a law to grant permits to climb Mount Everest only to those who have previously scaled at least one 7,000-metre peak within the country. The move would mark a major shift for the tourism-dependent country amid concerns over overcrowding and ecological imbalance on the world's highest mountain. Nepal, which is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking and tourism, has faced criticism for permitting too many climbers, including inexperienced ones, to try to ascend the mammoth peak. This often results in long queues of climbers in the 'death Zone', an area below the summit with insufficient natural oxygen for survival. The Integrated Tourism Bill proposed in Nepal's upper house of Parliament on 18 April is expected to be passed in the National Assembly.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
First Welshman to climb Everest slams adventure costs
The adventure and mountaineering industry has turned into "a complete circus which is too expensive", according to the first Welshman to climb Mount Everest. Caradoc Jones, 66, said large companies demanded too much money for excursions to some of the world's biggest attractions. Mr Jones, who is originally from Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, reached the summit of the world's highest mountain on 23 May 1995 and since then he has continued to climb in some of the most remote areas. "We have to be careful that we don't lose the element of a real adventure," he said. Mr Jones, who now lives in Helsby, Cheshire, said his journey with mountaineering began by "climbing mountains in Eryri when I was young". "Then I learned ice climbing in Scotland, the Alps and there were many campaigns before going to Everest," he said. While preparing for the challenge in 1995 with his Danish climbing partner, Michael Knakkergaard Jørgensen, Mr Jones started the journey in the Tibet area, north of Everest. "There's a rocky road that goes all the way to base camp and it's about 20km [12.4 miles] from the East Rongbuk Glacier to the advanced base. Then the real climbing starts there when you're up 6,000 feet [183m]". British soldiers make Everest history using new method Man climbs to Everest base camp on crutches Firefighter ready to climb Everest in work gear He said climbing at height was "very difficult" on his body, "although we had adapted in Nepal". As the pair approached the summit there was still no guarantee of success, with bad weather putting the whole adventure in jeopardy. "We were caught in a storm in the highest spot of around 8,300 meters [27,000 ft] for three days, until the wind then dropped and we got the opportunity to go to the summit. But there was no certainty until the last few minutes." With a clear gap in the extreme weather, they both managed to make it to the summit and Mr Jones said it was a huge relief. "Finally you think you're going to succeed because you see the old flags on the top and the last 200 yards from the north are not steep so you just feel happiness and relief as you approach," he said. "I grew up when Everest was a personal battle, and finally we had succeeded." Mr Jones said his trip 30 years ago cost between £2,000 and £3,000, compared to an average cost now of between £40,000 and £60,000. "People tend to think that you can't do things like this unless you have done a course or passed an exam and bought all this kit," he said. "It has turned into a complete circus and has almost nothing to do with real mountaineering. "People are quietly doing much harder things in every corner of the world and that's where the heart of mountaineering and climbing lies I think." Mr Jones is still climbing, with a trip to the Himalayas planned for the end of the year, and insists that there is adventure to be found in every corner of the world.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- BBC News
First Welshman to climb Mount Everest slams 'expensive' trips
The adventure and mountaineering industry has turned into "a complete circus which is too expensive", according to the first Welshman to climb Mount Jones, 66, said large companies demanded too much money for excursions to some of the world's biggest Jones, who is originally from Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, reached the summit of the world's highest mountain on 23 May 1995 and since then he has continued to climb in some of the most remote areas."We have to be careful that we don't lose the element of a real adventure," he said. Mr Jones, who now lives in Helsby, Cheshire, said his journey with mountaineering began by "climbing mountains in Eryri when I was young"."Then I learned ice climbing in Scotland, the Alps and there were many campaigns before going to Everest," he preparing for the challenge in 1995 with his Danish climbing partner, Michael Knakkergaard Jørgensen, Mr Jones started the journey in the Tibet area, north of Everest."There's a rocky road that goes all the way to base camp and it's about 20km [12.4 miles] from the East Rongbuk Glacier to the advanced base. Then the real climbing starts there when you're up 6,000 feet [183m]". He said climbing at height was "very difficult" on his body, "although we had adapted in Nepal". As the pair approached the summit there was still no guarantee of success, with bad weather putting the whole adventure in jeopardy."We were caught in a storm in the highest spot of around 8,300 meters [27,000 ft] for three days, until the wind then dropped and we got the opportunity to go to the summit. But there was no certainty until the last few minutes."With a clear gap in the extreme weather, they both managed to make it to the summit and Mr Jones said it was a huge relief."Finally you think you're going to succeed because you see the old flags on the top and the last 200 yards from the north are not steep so you just feel happiness and relief as you approach," he said."I grew up when Everest was a personal battle, and finally we had succeeded." Mr Jones said his trip 30 years ago cost between £2,000 and £3,000, compared to an average cost now of between £40,000 and £60,000."People tend to think that you can't do things like this unless you have done a course or passed an exam and bought all this kit," he said."It has turned into a complete circus and has almost nothing to do with real mountaineering."People are quietly doing much harder things in every corner of the world and that's where the heart of mountaineering and climbing lies I think."Mr Jones is still climbing, with a trip to the Himalayas planned for the end of the year, and insists that there is adventure to be found in every corner of the world.
