A striking image illustrates the modern overcrowding on Everest's summit ridge, a vivid portrayal of the book's critique of commercialization. A long queue of climbers, clad in colorful gear, stretches along a narrow, snow-covered ridge near the Hillary Step, their headlamps glowing in the pre-dawn twilight. The scene is tense, with climbers huddled against biting winds, their oxygen tanks strapped to their backs as they wait in the Death Zone's perilous thin air. Below, the mountain's slopes are littered with faint traces of trash—plastic wrappers, abandoned gear—highlighting the environmental crisis. A Sherpa, carrying a heavy load, moves alongside the queue, their presence a reminder of their indispensable yet undervalued role. The image captures the ethical tension between adventure and exploitation, a central theme of the book's narrative.
