This year’s climbing season on Mount Everest saw the worst death toll in four years, and a Nepali government committee stated today that Nepal must require all climbers attempting Everest and other high-altitude peaks to have proof of high-altitude climbing training and relevant experience.
Eleven climbers died or went missing while ascending Mount Everest, which stands at 8,850 meters above sea level, in May. Nine of them perished on the Nepali side, while the other two lost their lives on the Tibetan side.
Foreign climbers must pay the Nepali government $11,000 (approximately NT$340,000) to obtain a climbing permit. Following the deaths of several mountaineers during summit attempts, government officials faced criticism from numerous climbers and guides, leading to the establishment of a committee composed of government officials, climbing experts, and mountaineering agencies.
Nepal issued 381 permits for climbing Mount Everest this season. Typically, May is the peak month for summits due to the most favorable weather conditions.
In its report submitted to the government, the committee stated: “Climbers attempting Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for Everest) and other peaks above 8,000 meters must first undergo basic high-altitude mountain climbing training.”
The report also noted that climbers wishing to ascend Everest must have climbed at least one peak within Nepal that is higher than 6,500 meters before applying for a permit. Climbers are also required to submit health and fitness reports and must be accompanied by a licensed Nepali mountain guide.
Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, an official from the Department of Tourism, stated that the recommendations in the report will be implemented and that necessary legal amendments will be made.
(China Times)