Everest's Dominance: English International Edition
On April 29, in Nepal, Mount Everest—with its towering height of 8,848.86 meters—continues to attract numerous dedicated climbers. Since Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary achieved the first successful ascent in 1953, close to 9,000 people have reached the peak via the Nepalese route. This season, more than 400 individuals have obtained permits for their attempt at conquering Everest, with expectations suggesting this figure might rise to around 500. Including guides, these figures may exceed 1,000 participants. While such large crowds contribute positively to Nepal’s economy, they also bring about several negative consequences. Notably, overcrowding has led to significant delays along the routes, often referred to as “traffic jams.” Additionally, there has been an uptick in climber fatalities; seventeen died in 2023, followed by eight in early 2024. Furthermore, accelerated glacial melting and escalating pollution levels have transformed the world's tallest mountain into what some call "the planet's highest trash heap."
To address these issues, the Supreme Court delivered a mandamus directive last year, instructing officials to manage the increasing number of mountaineering expeditions on the mountain. In response, the Department of Tourism recently introduced the Integrated Tourism Bill in the upper chamber of Parliament. According to the suggested legislation, individuals wishing to climb Mount Everest will be required to prove they have previously ascended a summit higher than 7,000 meters. This requirement has become essential as an influx of inexperienced climbers attempting Everest in recent times has endangered both themselves and local guides known as Sherpas. Simultaneously, the bill seeks to enhance waste disposal efforts due to rising demands for environmental cleanup, placing accountability with the relevant authority.
Moreover, individuals must present health certificates obtained from a recognized governmental healthcare provider within the past month; otherwise, they won’t be permitted to climb due to their poor condition. The retrieval of deceased climbers incurs significant expenses as these remains often remain trapped in the notorious Danger Zone beyond 8,000 meters. Therefore, this legislation suggests adding insurance provisions covering not just accidents, health issues, and search-and-rescue operations but also managing fallen climber’s bodies. Additional suggested changes encompass mandating that all searches and rescues should exclusively be conducted through authorized tour operators, imposing strict fines on lawbreakers, and safeguarding employment rights for local guides known as Sherpas.
It isn’t the first instance where the Nepalese government attempted to regulate Everest climbs. Back in 1995-96, scaling Mount Everest demanded previous success at reaching a height of 6,000 meters or more; nonetheless, this regulation did not last long due to reduced expedition numbers. Facing mounting pressure from climbers and industry players, the administration eventually overturned this policy. The new proposal continues to sidestep the issue wherein climbers must cover the costs for liaison officers—government representatives supervising these expeditions—which can appear akin to systemic corruption. Moreover, regardless of whether one is at an elevation of 6,000 or even 7,000 meters, fatalities remain indifferent to such heights.
Nevertheless, the bill aims to create a framework for more secure climbing, impose regulations, and ensure accountability. This is praiseworthy since ascending Everest is far from simple—it demands patience, thorough acclimatization, strong dedication, meticulous planning, and substantial logistics. Were conquering it as straightforward as its allure suggests, many more individuals would reach its summit. Additionally, this measure represents a crucial effort to preserve Everest, which has faced severe environmental degradation—such as the thawing of the Khumbu Glacier—that impacts both the local area and communities further downstream.
The Nepalese government and entrepreneurs frequently view Mount Everest as a source of quick profits and exploit it without considering conservation efforts or human safety. It’s now essential to find an appropriate equilibrium between people’s desires and what the mountain can sustainably support.