According to the Himalayan Database, a total of 12 people have been confirmed dead so far during this year’s climbing season. Five other people are listed as missing, presumed dead because they had not contacted anyone for at least five days.
The data was also confirmed by Yuba Raj Khatiwada, director of the Nepal Tourism Authority. According to him, the main reason for this may be that the weather conditions were not very favorable this season. He added that climate change is having a particularly big impact in the mountains Watchman according to his report.
In recent years, the number of deaths at the highest mountain peak in the world has increased. On average, five to 10 people die on Mount Everest each year, but this year may be one of the worst, second only to the 2014 climbing season, when 17 people lost their lives on the mountain.
Janus Kinison, who died on the mountain on May 19, 2023, died of altitude sickness during this year’s climbing season. The 40-year-old Australian – who came for charity, with his climb to raise money for Australian spinal cord injuries – successfully conquered the peak, but also died during the descent. Also in April, Canadian physician Peter Swart and three Nepalese Sherpas lost their lives as a result of a sudden avalanche.
Suhajda Szilárd, who started the summit assault without an oxygen bottle or Sherpa, is listed among the missing. The rescue team ended the search for the Hungarian climber on May 27. The decision was made with reference to the elapsed time, weather conditions and terrain, because according to them there was no longer any chance of finding the climber alive. But an Indian-Singaporean climber who is believed to have fallen from the mountain is also listed as missing.
They issue a lot of climbing permits
The Nepalese government has been criticized several times for issuing 479 climbing permits this year, the highest number ever. However, the licenses, which cost 12,000 pounds (8.5 million forints) per person, represent an important income for the cash-strapped country, so the government is reluctant to reduce their number.
According to the director of the Nepal Tourism Bureau, this is not much, as the climbing season started earlier this year. However, Ang Norbu, president of the National Mountain Guides Association of Nepal, does not see the situation that way. According to him, the government is issuing a lot of permits and this is also putting environmental pressure on the mountain.
The style of climbing has changed, in the past there were only trained climbers, but now many beginner climbers want to reach the summit of Everest.
Sherpa said.
Experts and famous climbers have warned that the 8,848-meter Mount Everest is now seen as a tourist destination and a “playground for the thrill-seeking rich”. After all, there are those who have little experience in climbing high mountains, but are willing to pay a lot of money to get to the top.
Mountaineer Alan Arnett, who climbed Everest in 2011, now writes regularly about the conditions. He sees this year as “a mess” and says the main reason for the high number of deaths is because inexperienced agents push themselves too hard and don’t turn back soon enough.
Lots of rubbish
However, the movement of high mountaineering also has a bad effect on the environment. Everest Base Camp is located on the Khumbu Glacier, and the constant human presence is exacerbating the conditions caused by climate change. According to a recent survey, the glaciers on Everest have lost 2,000 years of ice in the past 30 years alone.
In order to cater to the more than 400 climbers annually, about 1,500 people come to base camp during the season, where luxury facilities can include massages and evening entertainment. Climbing to base camp is often done by helicopter.
Due to the large number of climbers, the problem of the huge amount of rubbish left on Everest also increases. Although the situation has improved somewhat since the introduction of the “garbage fee”, which climbers only return if they carry 8 kilograms of rubbish. However, according to local Sherpas, the mountain is still full of rubbish, especially plastic.
(Cover Photo: (Frank Bennewald/LightRocket/Getty Images)
