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comment by WanderingEng

I agree with all of this!

You make a really good point about using guides to help inexperienced people learn. That's a great use of guides, and at some point I'll probably pay someone for exactly that. If I ever do the Everest base camp trek, I think they have pack animals carry your overnight gear.

Having a guide carry all your stuff isn't condemnable, but it's different from being part of an expedition.

It's almost like the difference between a big through hike (like the Appalachian Trail) and doing the same hike a section at a time. Both are impressive, both deserve recognition, but everyone knows they aren't quite the same thing. Both cover the same distance, the same trails, but one had to work harder.