Even the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, is experiencing congestion. To address this, the Nepalese government has decided to implement one-way traffic measures during the upcoming Everest “summit season.”
Queues to Reach the Summit
Due to the high altitude and severe oxygen deprivation, Everest was once dubbed the “death zone” by mountaineers. This forbidden area was not conquered by humans until 1953. On May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Nepalese guide Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Everest. With advancements in technology, Everest is no longer an “exclusive zone” for elite climbers, attracting a growing number of amateur enthusiasts. Sensing the huge commercial potential, Nepal launched Everest tourism projects in the 1980s. As long as you can afford the cost, Sherpa guides in Nepal will literally carry you to the top. Nowadays, 90% of climbers heading for Everest lack basic mountaineering skills.
What was once a human forbidden zone has turned into a “vegetable garden,” and the number of people reaching the summit of Everest increases every year. In 2012, over 600 people summited; in 2013, more than 800 did. What about 2014? According to estimates by the Nepalese government, the number will definitely not be lower than last year. From early April to late May is the golden “window” for Everest summits. With hundreds of people attempting the climb at the same time, can Everest handle it? Last year, due to overcrowding, congestion occurred at the world’s highest peak: at Camp III, 1,692 meters from the summit, a long line of people heading for Everest stretched as far as the eye could see; congestion near Everest persisted even past midnight. The year before, four people died from oxygen deprivation and severe heat loss due to excessively long wait times for summiting.
Mountains of Trash Polluting the Environment
To alleviate the overcrowding on Everest and reduce waiting times in queues, the Nepalese government has decided to install additional climbing ropes in certain treacherous areas near Everest to separate ascending and descending climbers. This way, those who have already summited can quickly descend via the down ropes, while those yet to summit can advance swiftly using the up ropes, without interfering with each other.
Additionally, Nepal has decided to deploy a nine-member team, including government officials and security personnel, to be stationed at the Everest Base Camp during the climbing season. They will oversee and manage the number of climbers and their behavior. In the event of congestion on Everest, they have the authority to revoke climbers’ permits and order them to descend early.
Besides implementing one-way routes, Nepal has also decided that starting this year, all Everest challengers must carry back at least 8 kilograms of trash from the mountain trails. This trash includes oxygen tanks, litter left by previous climbers, and the frozen bodies of those who perished, aiming to reduce the ever-growing amount of waste on Everest.