World of the Bizarre

Climbers turn Mt Everest in to a rubbish dump

By T.K. Randall
June 19, 2018

Image: Mt. Everest from Gokyo Ri (2012)
Credit: Rdevany / CC BY-SA 3.0 (adapted) There remain few peaks on Earth that can match the breathtaking spectacle and challenging conditions of Everest - officially the world's tallest mountain.

Over the last few years however, its slopes have been turned in to something more akin to a waste disposal site than a natural wonder with piles of rubbish being left strewn across the mountainside.

The problem stems from the sheer number of wealthy, inexperienced travelers who have been climbing up the mountain in recent years. In many cases, guides are hired to carry all of their equipment and supplies, meaning that there's no way to carry the rubbish back down.

The issue is now so bad that back in March, the chief of Nepal's mountaineering association Ang Tshering warned that human waste on the mountain was threatening to spread disease."Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there," he said.

Efforts have been made to address the issue by threatening to forfeit a $4,000 deposit if climbers fail to carry eight kilograms of rubbish back down to base camp with them.

Given how expensive an Everest expedition actually is however, it is not proving much of an incentive.

#3Novices Mount Everest turned into a rubbish dump https://t.co/SHl76Dy1jv THEY fork out thousands of dollars for the privilege of visiting this iconic site, but shocking photographs have emerged showing just what tourists to Mount Everest are leaving in their wake: A cesspool…

— 3Novices Australia (@3novicesSydney) June 19, 2018

Source: News.com.au

Tags: Everest, Mountain