Nepal to Clamp Down on Everest Permits After Embarrassing “Fight on Everest”

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Everest traffic.
Everest traffic.

This past May, 3 Europeans were involved in a “fight” with about 100 Sherpas.  The fight occurred after the Europeans climbed above and reportedly kicked down ice on the Sherpas while the Sherpas were fixing ropes.  The Sherpas got angry, mobbed, and attacked the climbers 24,500-feet at Camp 3 later that day.  The Sherpas reportedly punched, kicked, threw rocks, and even threatened to kill the European climbers.

In response to this the Nepalese government will be creating “a permanent government mechanism” on Mount Everest during climbing season.  The Nepalese government will also be tightly regulating permits issued to the nearly 1,000 climbers who attempt Everest each year.  Up to this point there has been very little regulation of permits and permits are unlimited.   The unlimited nature of the permits also leads to huge traffic jams on summit day that resulted in 11 deaths on Everest in 2012.

“Mountaineering teams will have to declare beforehand whether they plan to set any new records, amid growing competition to set bizarre milestones, including climbers standing on their heads or ‘taking off their clothes while on the summit.’

“Tshering Sherpa, the previous president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, added that such attempts ‘don’t bode well for the dignity of Everest, which is a global icon.’ “ – Nepalese government via the Telegraph

Ueli Steck, Jon Griffith and Simone Moro at camp 2 on Mt Everest Photo: Jon Griffith/Alpine Exposures
The 3 European climbers involved in the “Fight on Everest”:  Ueli Steck, Jon Griffith and Simone Moro at camp 2 on Mt Everest Photo: Jon Griffith/Alpine Exposures

This should end up being a good thing.  Everest has become somewhat of a circus in the past 7 years and the problems occurring up there seem to escalate each year.

“When there is the presence of the government on the ground, the message ‘violating the law is punishable’ becomes clearer.”  – Purna Chandra Bhattarai, chief of the tourism industry division in Nepal that oversees mountaineering told the BBC.

RELATED POSTS:

Fight Breaks Out on Everest over Weekend: 100 Sherpas vs. 3 Europeans @ 23,000 Ft

“Fight on Everest” MUCH Uglier Than Originally Reported | Rock to Head, Knife Stabbing, Death Threats

Ueli Steck Interview on “Fight on Everest” | “100 People Trying to Kill 3 People” – Ueli


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