Nepal’s new Everest permit rules to prevent death could require climbers to summit a 6,500m peak first
- A committee has recommended regulations for guides and climbers to prevent a repeat of the nine deaths on the Nepalese side of the mountain this year
- The government is expected to amend its mountaineering regulations following the recommendations.
A Nepal government committee formed after a bad mountaineering season on Mount Everest has recommended that climbers be required to have scaled tall peaks, undergone proper training, and possess certificates of good health and insurance that would cover rescue costs before attempting to summit.
A report by the committee released Wednesday said people must have successfully climbed a peak higher than 6,500 metres before they can apply for a permit to scale Mount Everest. Each climber would also be required to have a highly experienced guide.
The government was criticised for allowing too many climbers on the world’s highest peak.
Mountaineering authorities were also criticised for not stopping inexperienced climbers, who had difficulty coping with harsh conditions on Everest and slowed down other climbers on the trail, to the 8,850m summit.
The government is expected to amend its mountaineering regulations following the recommendations.
The March-May climbing season is when weather conditions are best for climbing the Himalayan mountain.