Since April this year, there have been frequent reports of climbers losing their lives on the southern slope of Mount Everest, while the northern slope has seen few bad news. Except for the impact of the strong earthquake in Nepal in April 2015, the climbing season on the northern slope of Everest in Tibet has become increasingly smooth and efficient, attracting more international mountaineers.
Bai Ma Chilie, deputy secretary-general of the Tibet Mountaineering Association, said that this year a total of 300-plus people from international climbing teams across 29 countries and regions planned to summit Everest within Tibet, including 173 who successfully reached the summit, including high-altitude guides. Among them, over 80 were climbers, a number similar to previous years. He said that this year Nepal issued the highest number of climbing permits to foreigners ever, while Tibet has been cautious about this matter.
In Nepal, reaching the southern slope base camp requires a long trek on foot. The route to Mount Everest from Tibet is becoming increasingly well-developed, allowing climbers to drive directly to the base camp, saving both energy and time. Ni Ma Ciren, deputy director of the Tibet Sports Bureau, said that every climbing team is required to clean up garbage around their campsites, with specialists inspecting during camp breakdown. After the climbing season ends, the Tibet Mountaineering Association also organizes local villagers to carry garbage down from the Advance Base Camp at 6,500 meters. In the future, several waste sorting stations will be built on the northern slope of Everest, and equipment for decomposable waste will be installed at the Advance Base Camp.
"The base camp also has some really capable liaison officers," said Adrian Ballinger, a UIAGM-certified high-altitude guide. The liaison officers in Tibet come to the camp every day to report on mountain conditions and also help organize transport teams to the Advance Base Camp. They are very professional, and the climbing environment in Tibet is getting better and better.