Mount Everest: Tourist Hotspot or Death Zone?
Overcrowding, Pollution, and Commercialization
A modern-day gold rush
Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, has become a magnet for climbers, both experienced and inexperienced. In 2019, a record 885 people reached the summit, leading to overcrowding and long queues on the final stretch to the top. This influx of climbers has also brought an increase in pollution and commercialization, raising concerns about the future of the mountain.
The dangers of overcrowding
The overcrowding on Everest has led to a number of safety concerns. In 2019, 11 people died on the mountain, the highest number of deaths in a single year since 2015. The main cause of death was altitude sickness, which can be exacerbated by the long queues and slow progress up the mountain. Other dangers include avalanches, icefalls, and crevasses.
Pollution and commercialization
The increase in climbers has also led to an increase in pollution on Everest. Climbers leave behind trash, including food wrappers, oxygen tanks, and even human waste. This pollution can damage the mountain's fragile ecosystem and make it less attractive to climbers.
The commercialization of Everest has also led to concerns about the mountain's authenticity. Many climbers now use bottled oxygen and high-altitude porters to help them reach the summit. This has made the climb less challenging and more accessible to people with less experience.
Nepal's reluctance to limit permits
A source of revenue
Despite the concerns about overcrowding, pollution, and commercialization, Nepal has been reluctant to limit the number of permits it issues to climb Everest. The permits are a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government, and the tourism industry provides employment for many people in the region.
Balancing act
The Nepalese government is facing a difficult balancing act. It needs to find a way to regulate the number of climbers on Everest without killing the golden goose. One possible solution would be to introduce a lottery system for permits, or to increase the price of permits to make the climb less accessible.
The future of Everest
A difficult future
The future of Everest is uncertain. If the current trends continue, the mountain could become so crowded and polluted that it is no longer attractive to climbers. This would have a devastating impact on the tourism industry in Nepal and could also damage the mountain's natural beauty.
However, there is still hope for Everest. If Nepal can find a way to manage the number of climbers and reduce pollution, the mountain can continue to be a source of wonder and inspiration for generations to come.
Conclusion
Lukas Furtenbach, whose Austria-based tour company has brought 100 people to the summit since 2016, stressed, "The photograph of a traffic jam of climbers leading to the summit of Mount Everest in May went viral evidence of the. May 25 2019 at 8:36 am Anjali Kulkarni an Indian mountain climber trained for six years to make it to the top of Mount. Climbers descending from the summit on Tuesday passed the Hillary Step a point at an altitude of about 8800 meters or."
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