The 1996 expedition to Mount Everest led by Rob Hall, in which eight people died, is considered one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the mountain's history. The surviving members of the expedition have been criticized for a variety of reasons, including poor planning and decision-making, insufficient safety measures, and a lack of experience. Additionally, some have criticized the commercialization of the climb, with many inexperienced climbers paying large sums of money to be guided to the summit, which may have contributed to the high death toll. The negative press may also have been fueled by the tragic nature of the event and the loss of life.