It’s probably hard to imagine that Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak first conquered by humans sixty years ago, would one day be overcrowded.
In May 1953, New Zealand mountaineer (Hillary) and Sherpa guide (Tenzing Norgay) became the first people in the world to climb to the top of the Earth’s highest mountain. They achieved an unprecedented feat, and while it was natural that others would follow, no one could have imagined that the world’s No. 1 peak would become what it is today — a place where climbers come in an endless stream, even crowded to the point of chaos.
A large part of this is thanks to the continuous advancement of climbing gear and equipment, as well as the dedication of Sherpa guides, enabling more and more mountaineers to realize what was once considered an impossible dream.
According to statistics, in 1990, only 18 out of every 100 people who attempted to climb Everest succeeded. Last year, the success rate reached 56 percent. As a result, the summit of the world’s highest peak sometimes looks eerily like a highway jammed with cars during a long holiday.
It was reported that on May 19 last year, 234 people successfully reached the summit. Thirty years ago, in 1983, only eight people climbed Everest in the entire year, and in 1993, there were 40.
This year, some climbers complained that they had to queue for two and a half hours on the final stretch before the summit, at an altitude of nearly 8,800 meters.
A photo taken last year by a German climber showing a long line of people, stretching hundreds of meters, waiting to ascend at the foot of Everest sparked intense discussion in the mountaineering community. Many felt that such an absurd scene had stripped all the joy out of climbing the world’s highest peak.
Everest is no longer seen as the ultimate shrine by mountaineers but has become a popular tourist destination. Travel agencies now specialize in Everest expeditions, handling everything from permit applications to full itinerary planning — all you need to do is pay, with prices ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Tourists flock to it, while serious mountaineers feel the value of Everest has been undermined. One experienced climber said it no longer feels like challenging nature but more like a McDonald’s experience.
More accurate weather forecasting technology has also led to a further concentration of Everest summit attempts, with everyone crowding into the very few days of the year when the weather is best. Although most tourism-focused climbers lack technical mountaineering skills, money can make up for a lot of shortcomings. For example, if you’re willing to pay, you can have a continuous supply of oxygen along the way. Even if you’re not strong enough, Nepalese guides will try every means to get customers to the top, including setting up ropes on particularly treacherous sections of cliffs for climbers to grab onto. In the eyes of professional mountaineers, this is practically an insult to the sport. But thanks to all kinds of human assistance, over 3,000 people have climbed Everest in the past 60 years. These include a 13-year-old boy from California (Jordan Romero) who summited in 2010, and the Japanese mountaineer (Yuichiro Miura), aged 80, who recently broke the record for the oldest person to climb Everest.
Experts say that as long as you’re not seriously ill or too weak, can afford the cost, and have enough patience, almost anyone can climb Everest.
Some worry that the influx of inexperienced climbers may increase the rate of mountaineering accidents. In 1996, eight people died on Everest within 36 hours. Last year, ten people lost their lives on the mountain, including three Sherpas. When amateurs attempt high-difficulty climbs, they not only put themselves at risk but may also endanger others. It’s no wonder that professional mountaineers frown upon outsiders who treat Everest like a tourist attraction. In April, two European climbers clashed with a group of Sherpa guides at an altitude of over 7,400 meters. The debate over whether to take action to address the overcrowding on Everest — and how to do so — has intensified. Some suggest installing a ladder at Hillary Step, a 12-meter exposed rock face at 8,790 meters that is the final high-difficulty section on the Southeast Ridge route to the summit. Building a ladder would inevitably reduce its challenge, and professional climbers find it utterly unbecoming. In fact, prior to 1985, the Nepalese authorities were very strict about issuing Everest climbing permits, allowing only one permit per route per period. Some suggest returning to that practice, but many oppose it, considering the potential impact on local residents who rely on Everest tourism for their livelihoods. The Nepalese authorities are also in a difficult position.
(Radio Taiwan International)