The government of Nepal is issuing too many permits to ascend Mt Everest (381 permits this year, a record) and not screening adequately for qualified, experienced climbers who understand the perils and the techniques for climbing at extreme heights.
Eleven deaths in just ten days.
The problem is an extremely narrow period in late May or early June, when the weather clears enough to allow climbing, so all the permitees are crowding the mountain at the same time. At the heights involved, just short of 30,000 feet, there is not enough oxygen and climbers must carry oxygen tanks.
When the congestion is bad and they have to wait for hour, they run out of oxygen and die.
The government of Nepal is facing a chorus of international criticism for its handling this year, and hopefully this will lead to reforms for the future.
The government of Nepal is issuing too many permits to ascend Mt Everest (381 permits this year, a record) and not screening adequately for qualified, experienced climbers who understand the perils and the techniques for climbing at extreme heights.
Eleven deaths in just ten days.
The problem is an extremely narrow period in late May or early June, when the weather clears enough to allow climbing, so all the permitees are crowding the mountain at the same time. At the heights involved, just short of 30,000 feet, there is not enough oxygen and climbers must carry oxygen tanks.
When the congestion is bad and they have to wait for hour, they run out of oxygen and die.
The government of Nepal is facing a chorus of international criticism for its handling this year, and hopefully this will lead to reforms for the future.