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The professional climbers you meet have a very calm, laid-back demeanor about them. The ultimate climbers -- the Sherpa who are the life and soul of Everest and make all climbs possible -- are so laid-back it's almost a wonder they make it to the top at all, except, of course, that that calmness comes from professional experience.

What this story did expose, however, are the inexperienced climbers who put others at risk: hesitating with important footwork or rope handling (that's a technical term, you're welcome), in near pitch black conditions, leaves others exposed for longer than they should be.

Just how many of these kinds of people are up there on any one climb is difficult to know, but one U.S. climber who lives here told me there do seem to be more and more of them every year.

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ABC News
PHOTO: Fatalities on Everest 2018 vs 2019
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Jostling to take photographs at the peak, pushing to take selfies... these are not things the old guard -- the professional climbers and those for whom this is a way of life and not just a photo opportunity -- are happy about either.

The photographs caused a commotion this year, but they've shone a light on an issue that seems to have been steadily growing over time. It only took a short good weather window for everyone to take notice of it.

Crucially, it doesn't take many people to make a dangerous situation deadly. When you're travelling single file up the tallest mountain in the world, it only takes one person to hold everyone up.

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