Nepal refuses to restrict Everest permits despite traffic jams and 11 deaths
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation secretary says they will have two ropes near the summit, so climbers can ascend and descend separately
- He blames short weather window, equipment and inadequate supplemental oxygen for high death toll
Scaling Mount Everest was a dream few realised before Nepal opened its side of the mountain to commercial climbing. This year the government issued a record number of permits, contributing to traffic jams on the world’s highest peak that may have caused the greatest death toll in four years.
As the allure of Everest grows, so have the crowds, with inexperienced climbers faltering on the narrow passageway to the peak and causing deadly delays, veteran climbers said.
Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries, relies on the climbing industry to bring in US$300 million each year. It doesn’t cap the number of permits it issues or control the pace or timing of the expeditions, leaving that to tour operators and guides who take advantage of brief clear weather whenever they come, leading to pileups near the peak.
On May 22, a climber snapped a photo from a line with dozens of hikers in colourful winter gear that snaked into the sky.