Why Are So Many People Dying on Everest?

This year more than 400 climbers and sherpas decided to try their luck at summiting Mount Everest during the spring climbing season. Tragically, at least four have died so far and more than 30 others are reported to be suffering from severe frostbite and other ailments caused by prolonged exposure to Everest's brutal conditions. With several days remaining in the climbing season, and many climbers still preparing to make ascents, the potential for further tragedy is high.

What's keeping climbers stuck up there isn’t bad weather, a natural disaster or even equipment failures. The problem is depressingly familiar: Too many people are trying to climb the world's tallest mountain and are contributing to deadly traffic congestion in the process.