Seaborn Beck Weathers, a.k.a. Beck Weathers is the survival of the deadliest blizzard on Mount Everest, known as the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster that took the life of eight. The event was covered in Jon Krakauer’s book, “Into Thin Air,” and its adaptation movies, “Into Thin Air: Death on Everest” and “Everest. “
Who Is Beck Weathers? Bio
Beck Weathers is a pathologist by profession. Texas native, he was born on 16th December 1946 to a military family. He holds an American nationality and is of white ethnic background. Further, he enrolled in college in Wichita Falls, Texas.
In his early thirties, Weathers joined a mountaineering course. Inspired by Richard Bass, the first man to have successful Seven Summits, Weathers also decided to climb the Seven Summits.
Climbing Experience?
Before Everest, Becks Weathers had climbed the other six of the seven summits: Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, and Elbrus. Also, he climbed the Mexican volcanoes, New England ice, and ice snow and rock in Colorado.
As of now, Beck Weathers has retired from climbing.
1996 Everest Disaster
To begin: Weather signed with Rob Hall‘s Adventure Consultants for the Mount Everest expedition, becoming one of eight clients. On 10th May, Weather told Rob that he could not see. Hence, he wanted to descend immediately to Camp IV. But Weathers believed his vision would improve with the Sunrise. Agreed with Hall, Rob asked him to wait on the Balcony of the 29,000 ft Everest until he returned to descent with him.
With tragic Rob Hall never returning, he died near the summit after the blizzard struck. Weathers eventually descended with guide Michael Groom. After the storm, Weather and the other ten climbers were disorientated and could not find Camp IV.
After several hours, the storm stopped. But by then, Weathers became so exhausted that he was left with five other climbers so the others could help. After some time, Anatoli Boukreev, a fellow guide from Scott Fishers‘s mad Mountain, reached them and rescued several climbers. Unfortunately, Weathers, at that time, had stood up and disappeared into the night.
On 11th May, the following day, Adventure Consultant’s client, Stuart Hutchison, and two Sherpas reached him and fellow client Yasuko Namba. However, Hutchison found the two were hopeless to be alive, so he left the two and descended back to Camp IV. Like this, Weathers was left two times for death.
However, Weathers survived the night, though he was in an open bivouac in a storm with his face and hands exposed. In the morning, he woke up and walked down to Camp IV. No one expected him to survive, But Weathers conquered it. Weathers was unconscious for about fifteen hours out of the 22 hours in the storm. His face: nose and cheeks were black as charcoal due to frostbite,
Weathers was assisted to descent to lower camp and was then evacuated by helicopter from the Western Cwm. Soon, it hit the international headline: one of the highest altitute medical evacuations ever performed by Helicopter.
Did Beck Weathers go blind?
Yes. Beck Weathers went blind above 8000m. Beck Weathers had undergone routine surgery to correct his nearsightedness. At that time, Weather had recent radial keratotomy surgery, which made him lose sight due to high altitude and overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Did Beck Weathers lose his nose?
Not only his nose but all four fingers and his thumb on his left hand as well as parts of both feet were amputated. More than that, his right arm, between the elbow and wrist, was amputated too.
His nose was reconstructed with tissue from his forehead and ear.
How old was Beck Weathers at Everest?
Beck Weather was 49 years old when he tried to summit Everest and was eventually caught in the Everest disaster.
Biggest Question Of the Era: Are Beck and Peach Weathers still married?
Beck Weathers and his wifey, Peach Weathers, celebrate their 47th marriage anniversary this year. Beck regards Everest as saving his marriage and family.
In an interview with Washington Post, Beck said he would be divorced and estranged from his children if he would not return from Everest wounded. His relationship with Peach was not good before Everest. They were on the verge of divorcing. Beck was depressed and went to the mountain for a breakthrough.
However, the incident reconciled their relationship. Weathers’ says the book, “Left for Dead,” was written with the help of Peach. The book narrates what drove Weathers to be obsessed with climbing and tells the price paid by those who remain behind.
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Lost Lives In 1996 Mount Everest Disaster
- Rob Hall, Adventure Consultants’ expedition leader, died near the South Summit
- Andy Harris, adventure Consultants’ expedition guide, disappeared near the South Summit while assisting
- HallDoug Hansen, Adventure Consultant’s Client, vanished near the South Summit while descending with Hall
- Yasuko Namba, Adventure Consultant’s Client, died on the South Col
- Scott Fisher, Mountain Madness’ expedition leader, killed on the Southeast ridge balcony
- Tsewang Samanla, Indo-Tibetan Border Police North Col expedition, died on the Northeast Ridge
- Dorje Morup, Indo-Tibetan Border Police North Col expedition, died on the Northeast Ridge
- Tsewang Paljor, a.k.a. Green Boots, Indo-Tibetan Border Police North Col expedition, died on the Northeast Ridge
