Nepal Looks To Limit Mount Everest Access After 11 Die During Climbing Season

After the deaths of eleven climbers this season from Nepal side access to the Mount Everest, the Himalayan nation is now limiting the access to the world¡¯s highest peak, but experts believe that the proposed change in rules won¡¯t make much of a difference.

Overcrowding was seen as the main reason for at least four deaths, many also say inexperience cause bigger casualties.

AP

Although overcrowding was blamed for at least four deaths, many say inexperience is a bigger killer.

¡°People who know nothing of climbing, never been on a mountain, came and tried to climb Everest,¡± Chilean mountaineer Juan Pablo Mohr told AFP after returning to Kathmandu.

¡°A lot of people didn¡¯t know how to put (on) crampons or (use) the fixed ropes,¡± he said adding the Sherpas or Nepali guides are rallied heavily upon to do these basic tasks.

For years, Kathmandu has been issuing permit to anyone who pay $11,000 without confirming or knowing whether the climber has experience or is a new to climbing.

But after this season where many deaths have been reported, the officials told AFP that Nepal is considering putting more restrictions on issuing permits.

AFP

¡°We are looking into having a minimum requirement for climbers, fixing more ropes or taking more oxygen and sherpas,¡± said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, secretary at Nepal¡¯s tourism ministry.

However, the veteran mountaineers believe that new rules and the restriction is just a little more than an yearly future exercise which fails to materialise and bring any change that can make the difference on ground.

AFP

Russel Brice who runs a company Himalayan Experience or Himex told AFP that he has organising expedition to Everest for years and he has been meeting officials for years to see approach which indifferent over the years.

¡°The ministry is in denial of overcrowding, of issuing too many permits, not checking what people are doing and so on,¡± Brice said.

¡°It is just stupid words,¡± he said, adding, ¡°they are not interested.¡± Brice gave an example that in 2014, Nepal government said it would double the number of fixed ropes near the summit to prevent traffic jams which was reported and seen as one of the major reasons behind many deaths of the mountaineers this year, but it never happened.