Just in case...
you were thinking of climbing Mt. Everest -
Mount Everest may be too much for seniors
SEATTLE, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Sixty is not the new 40, when it comes to climbing Mount Everest -- the older climber has a higher risk of not making it to the top, found a U.S. study.
Raymond Huey, of the University of Washington in Seattle, found the overall chances of dying on the world's tallest mountain were 1.5 percent but more than tripled to 5 percent for climbers over the age of 60.
The study, published in the journal Biology Letters, also showed that among 2,211 climbers during the spring seasons from 1990 through 2005, the overall chances of reaching Everest's summit at 29,030 feet were nearly 31 percent but dropped to 13 percent for climbers over age 60.
The findings run counter to a paper published in 2000 in a medical journal that said people in their 60s could safely climb peaks of about 26,300 feet.
"I think they were overstating the safety factor," Huey said in a statement. "I think it's much more risky."
Huey said he can't determine whether it's greater caution, reduced fitness or the combination that explains the lower success rate for older climbers.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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So all this intensive training I've been doing is for NOTHING???? 
