Everest climbers have themselves to blame

By

Opinion

May 30, 2019 - 10:27 AM

So far this year, 11 people have died on the world’s highest mountain. It’s a deadly traffic jam at the top. But it’s not only the mountain’s soaring elevation that has caused the influx of deaths — it’s the knot of climbers trying to make the final ascent up Mount Everest and those making their way down.

This is how Joanna Slater of The Washington Post described it from  Kathmandu, Nepal.

“Chatur Tamang was on his way to the roof of the world when he hit a traffic jam,” Slater wrote. “Ahead of him, on the final ascent to Mount Everest, he saw more than 100 people bunched together on the narrow ridge that leads to the summit — a place so high that it is known as the ‘death zone,’ where the human body has trouble functioning. Some of those descending from the summit pleaded desperately with those ascending to clear a way for them to pass since they had run out of oxygen.”

This is insanity. How is it allowed?

Money. Lots and lots of money. The fact is that climbing Mount Everest is an industry in Nepal. The government gets a piece of the action, excursion companies get their share and so do the local climbing guides who provide for their families with the cash they make during the short — and very dangerous — climbing season.

Many Americans are among the 382 climbers who have been granted government permits ($11,000 U.S. fixed price) to attempt to scale the mountain. The number of permits issued is more than in the past, but that’s not the sole reason for the traffic jam. Bad weather has made the window to reach the summit shorter than usual, which is why the “death zone” is flooded with hikers — and deaths.

Officials in Nepal say they are reviewing whether to change the way access to Everest works, specifically implement certain requirements for climbers.

Managing our extreme natural areas should be a priority — government and the mountain tourists both have responsibility.

Let’s be very clear, given the “traffic jam” conditions, it is ridiculous — as well as reckless and insane — to attempt to climb Everest right now. Even experienced and well-trained climbers are taking too big a risk.

The only people who can protect these climbers is themselves. Don’t climb Everest until these horrific and dangerous conditions have been eliminated. 

 

Related