There are some things in life I have no desire to do. One of them is to run a marathon; I respect all those of you who find meaning in accomplishing such a feat, but to me, running for 26 pain-soaked miles just isn’t all that appealing. Then again, I’ve gone parachuting more than once, and that’s something that doesn’t float everyone’s boat either.
Another adventure I’m happy to miss is climbing Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, one that straddles the China–Nepal border.
If you’ve ever read American writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer’s book about what really goes on up there, Into Thin Air — which I highly recommend — you’ll know that it’s not for the faint of heart. While covering the story for Outside Magazine, he was making the upward trek when a storm hit, and eight climbers were killed.
Sorry, but what’s the appeal again?
Of all the dangers, however, that I would have expected — dangers that have claimed the lives of over 344 people over the years — there’s one I never would have considered: guides poisoning their climbers for profit. But that’s exactly what authorities allege happened:
EVEREST mountain guides have been accused of secretly poisoning climbers to trigger costly helicopter rescues as part of a multi-million pound insurance scam.
The con reportedly works by getting climbers to stage a fake medical emergency.
A helicopter is then called to take the victim to a nearby hospital while a bogus insurance claim is written up, according to the Kathmandu Post.
🇳🇵 Investigators say guides on Mount Everest have been secretly lacing climbers’ food to trigger fake medical emergencies — fuelling a £15 million helicopter insurance scam.
Authorities found some tourists were pressured or tricked into evacuations, while others were made… pic.twitter.com/GahqD0Itju
— Europa.com (@europa) April 1, 2026
Authorities found some tourists were pressured or tricked into evacuations, while others were made physically ill, including cases where baking powder was added to food to induce symptoms.
More than 300 fake rescue cases have been identified since 2022, with guides, pilots, and medical staff accused of inflating bills and fabricating records to claim thousands per evacuation.
My God. We know there’s evil occurring daily on the streets of our big cities, and in Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Minnesota. But on Mount Everest? Who would have thought?
Did I mention it’s also covered in garbage and frozen corpses?
Mount Everest is so overcrowded and full of trash that it has been called the “world’s highest garbage dump.” pic.twitter.com/rWOwo8l2A2
— History Defined (@historydefined) March 25, 2026
How did the alleged scam work? Make them have to get rescued, and then hit up the insurance companies:
Investigators say some trekking guides tampered with tourists’ food, adding substances such as baking soda to trigger gastrointestinal distress. The symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, and weakness, closely resemble altitude sickness, a genuine and potentially fatal condition in high-altitude environments. Once trekkers fell ill, they were pressured into emergency helicopter evacuations, often presented as life-saving necessities.
They were then taken to health facilities that were in on the deal and justified the expensive evacuations and made false diagnoses. Authorities said the fraud was “organised and systematic” and that multiple outfits were involved.
The mind-boggling scheme, which is believed to have taken in at least $20 million, has resulted in 32 arrests of climbing agency owners and guides, helicopter company operators, and hospital staff.
It would seem that California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz aren’t the only officials on the globe turning a blind eye to massive fraud happening right in front of them.
My desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars, put my body through grueling pain, and face extreme and very possibly deadly perils just so I can get a selfie on top of a mountain has just grown lower, if that’s possible.
Thanks, but no thanks.
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