A Polish climber who summited the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, in Tibet in May this year “illegally crossed the border” and descended from the southern side in Nepal, angering the Tibet Mountaineering Association. To strengthen management of similar incidents, the Tibet Mountaineering Association has decided to suspend all foreign climbers’ ascents of Himalayan peaks over 8,000 meters in Tibet this autumn.
The Tibet Autonomous Region Mountaineering Association announced on the 11th that it has temporarily suspended the reception of overseas climbing teams planning to enter Tibet this autumn. The suspension affects not only climbs on the north side of Mount Everest but also ascents of other peaks over 8,000 meters, including Cho Oyu and Shishapangma. Notices about the suspension have been sent out to affected overseas climbing teams in recent days.
Soinam, head of the Tibet Autonomous Region Mountaineering Association, explained that the reason for the suspension is to resolve and improve mountaineering management and services in a timely manner, aiming to provide better conditions for the 2018 climbing season. He noted that commercial mountaineering in Tibet has been ongoing for over 10 years and many aspects still need improvement. This suspension is not only about adjusting and refining external reception services but also involves rectifying internal mechanisms; however, he also admitted it is related to the Polish climber’s “illegal border crossing.”
During this spring’s Everest climbing season, Polish national Janusz Adam Adamski first underwent one month of acclimatization training in Tibet. On May 21, he summited Everest via the north side and then descended on the same day from the south side, which lies in Nepal. This move angered the Tibet Mountaineering Association. The association believes that although summiting from the north and descending from the south may be “his personal life dream, all climbers who summit from the north side of Everest should descend via the north side.” To do otherwise, they must obtain climbing permits from both China and Nepal; otherwise, it is considered illegal.
The Tibet Mountaineering Association has decided not to recognize Janusz’s successful 2017 spring Everest north side summit, will not issue him a north side summit certificate, and has listed him as an unwelcome climber for the next 10 years.
Becoming the world’s “highest stowaway,” Janusz not only shows no regret but actually feels thrilled. “I’m happy to be the first Pole and the 15th person in the world to traverse Everest across the Himalayas,” he said. “This is the greatest achievement of my life.”