Hundreds of climbers will, once again this year, try to climb Everest, the highest peak on the planet (8,849 m). Last year, eighteen people lost their lives during these expeditions, which also generate a lot of pollution. The Nepalese authorities are therefore imposing new rules in 2024 to make access to the “roof of the world” safer and less polluting.
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For the 2024 mountain racing season, Everest climbers will have to carry two new items with them: first, a lightweight GPS beacon, which works without a battery and can be sewn to clothing. This will allow guides to find a walker lost over tens of meters and up to 20 meters under the snow.
The Everest Local Municipality has also introduced a series of new regulations to preserve Everest, a mountain sacred to Sherpas, where tons of waste are left behind every season, including cans, empty gas canisters, bottles, plastic, climbing gear.
Bags to bring down excrement
From now on, mountaineers will have to ensure the elimination of their excrement which becomes obligatory above the base camp. Walkers will have to carry small bags containing a chemical product, in order to bring back their dried excrement. Because this fecal pollution has become a huge problem on the Everest route, as evidenced by Kul Gurung, director of the Nepalese agency Alliance Treks and Expeditions. “ Camps 2 and Camps 4 are overcrowded, he explains. And all these people are relieving themselves around it, on the ice. But afterwards, we melt this ice to drink. This is problematic, and lately there are many people who have fever, cough or sore eyes. So forcing climbers to bring back their excrement is going to be very helpful. »
THE Nepal has eight of the 14 highest peaks in the world, over 8,000 meters. This year, between April and May, around 400 people will try to reach the summit of Everest.
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