The 1996 Everest disaster and our eternal contempt for the wealthy

In mid-May 1996, eight climbing guides, Sherpas, and their paying clients lost their lives on Mount Everest. A brutal storm contributed to the tragedy, as did the guides’ decision to continue to the summit too late in the day. But in his book “Into Thin Air,” mountain climber and writer Jon Krakauer, who was climbing with one of the guided Everest expeditions on assignment for “Outside,” also appeared to cast partial blame on a wealthy…