[tim333]

Modern Everest climbing clothing is mostly goose down, although with a thin polyester like layer over the top, so still fairly natural.

[solardev]

Not just the clothes, but the tents, ropes, shoes, bags, gloves, etc have all improved (and gotten more plastic). There's a bunch of metal waste too (oxygen cans etc) from what I understand, but at least that's mostly metal. And lots and lots of frozen poop and corpses, I suppose. It'll be interesting when it all melts...

[ghaff]

Real expedition mountaineering is definitely not a lightweight endeavor even if there's more high fill down and other better warmth/weight ratio clothing. It's more about trimming a few pounds off the weekend (or longer) hiker/camper's weight budget.

[solardev]

Don't they usually also have Sherpas pre-hauling a lot of equipment up, installing ropes and ladders, setting up base camps, etc.?

In some ways it seems more like a military operation than a sport (in terms of the logistical complexities).

[ghaff]

I've only done lower (6K meter) peaks. Yes. Sherpas/porters carry a lot up to base camp and beyond. But you're still carrying a lot of gear. There's a certain narrative that clients basically get carried up the mountain and it really isn't true.