Is Everest still a climber’s ultimate test, or has it become too crowded and controversial?
This week on The Backcountry Manifesto, Everest historian, climber, and 1999 Mallory expedition participant Tom Pollard joins host Hayden Sammak in PART 3 of our discussion to share his gripping firsthand stories. We dive into Tom’s four Everest attempts, his 2016 summit triumph, the evolution of guiding from pre-1996 pioneers to today’s high-stakes operators, and the raw power of Sherpa climbers. Plus, breakdowns of key landmarks like the Hillary Step and South Col, the perils of avalanches and bottlenecks, debunking myths around “Into Thin Air,” and reflections on what Everest truly represents beyond the hype. If you’re fascinated by high-altitude adventure, mountaineering history, or the human spirit against nature’s extremes, this episode is your summit push.
We talk about:
- The landmarks on the route of an Everest summit
- The DEATH ZONE
- Khumbu Icefall
- Sherpas
- Commercialization of the mountain
- Permits in Nepal and China
- Minecraft Youtuber turned Everest summiteer
Links mentioned in this video
Connect
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Partners
- Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com to purchase the VERY FIRST Backcountry Manifesto barrel pick, available right now!
Credits
- Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
- Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
- Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
- Production Assistance by John Stock
- “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA
- Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025
