The most important thing about climbing is knowing when to turn around.

That’s according to Memorial University professor TA Loeffler who has made three separate attempts to climb Mount Everest only to call it quits and descend before reaching the peak.

Eleven people have died already this season either climbing or descending the world’s highest peak, and Newfoundlander Mark Ballard who successfully reached the top last week says the crowds trying to do the same are unmanageable.

Picture courtesy Mark Ballard

TA Loeffler, an experienced climber, told Paddy Daly on the VOCM Morning Show it takes a lot of experience and the toll the mountain has taken speaks to that.

She says the congestion on the mountain shows there are people who aren’t experienced enough to be there.

She also spoke to the phenomenon known as Summit Fever.

People often ignore the symptoms of altitude sickness and press on because of the allure of the summit, and she says it takes a lot of maturity in your climbing to understand that “this is not the day.”