Nepal is known for its majestic Himalayas, with eight of the world’s ten highest mountains. This has become a big attraction for mountaineers who come in from all around the globe, providing a great boost to the country’s economy.
The country authorised 454 permits, a record-breaking number, to climb Mount Everest this spring, as reported by AFP. Several hundred mountaineers are expected to reach the peak of Everest in the coming weeks, mostly with the help of a Nepali guide. This is due to their immense experience and knowledge of this area. The government has generated $4.86 million from Everest permits, each costing $11,000 for foreign climbers.
This decision was taken four years after several fatalities occurred on the world’s highest mountain due to overcrowding.
Base Camp | Flickr/Mark Horrell
Unfavourable weather could shorten the window of opportunity for getting to the summit, which in turn could lead to a high volume of traffic leading up to it and possibly cause congestion. In 2019, the long lines to Mt. Everest put climbers at risk of illness and fatigue due to the high altitude and cold temperatures. Moreover, these exhaustible oxygen levels posed a serious health hazard for those who had to wait for hours in the queue.
In that year alone, 11 deaths occurred and all of them were attributed to overcrowding.
China topped the list of most climbers with 96 permits issued this season, while the United States registered a close second with 87. Experienced professional mountain climbers are currently making preparations for the Everest trip, having already fixed ropes up to Camp IV at 25,997 feet (7,924 m).
On April 12, three climbers from Nepal went missing while attempting to cross the high-risk Khumbu Icefall. After a thorough assessment of the situation, search and rescue teams eventually called off their mission as it was deemed impossible to recover the bodies from a deep crevasse.
