In reply to Mr. Lee:
> A lot of people would simply make up a list of ascents if it meant slashing insurance costs.
But surely you could require photos for evidence of more recent achievements and testimonials of climbing partners. Much like we have with notable first ascents these days? The goal is just to stop the very inexperienced who don't appreciate the risks and cannot help themselves when the shit hits the fan going near the mountain.
"You've been climbing 20 years, you did the Walker Spur last winter and then the Peutery Integral a few weeks later, this year you've done Broad Peak and lots of high altitude trekking. You've provided these photos and these testimonials. Your risk rating is 'c', your mandatory Body Removal Insurance Premium is £400 for next year on Everest." For example.
Or on the other hand: "You claim you've been climbing 20 years, you claim you've done Mont Blanc via the Gouter and have been unable to provide evidence. You have only been able to provide pictures of yourself and your dog on Munros in Summer in Scotland. We consider you high risk category 'a-'. Until you can provide further evidence of experience your premium is £50,000".
In the latter case the climber would just need to spend a season or two documenting some more meaty things that s/he'd be doing anyway if s/he was actually in to climbing. So it shouldn't be a problem.
This would all be on top of all other insurance costs and would be called something quite grizzly as I presented above to remind people that it is indeed very dangerous to piss about at 8000m with low experience levels.
Post edited at 15:28