China to Cut Everest Climbers by One Third to Clean Up Trash and Bodies
Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, attracts approximately 800 climbers each year. However, China has announced that it will reduce the number of climbers from the northern side by one third this year as part of a campaign to clean up trash and human remains on the legendary mountain.
Chinese state media reported that the total number of climbers permitted to attempt the 8,848-meter summit will be limited to under 300, with restrictions on spring season climbing.
The Everest Cleanup Campaign
The cleanup campaign includes the removal of bodies of unfortunate explorers as well as the waste they left behind. The route to the summit of Everest marks the border between China and Nepal. Each year, approximately 60,000 climbers and tourists visit Everest’s north side – which China refers to as Mount Qomolangma, its Tibetan name.
China has set up stations to store, recycle, and destroy waste on the mountain, including items such as cans, plastic bags, heating equipment, tents, and oxygen cylinders.
Last summer, Chinese authorities reported that they had removed 8.5 tons of waste from Mount Everest, much of which was human feces.
Efforts on the Nepali Side
On the eastern side within Nepal’s territory, expedition organizers have begun distributing large waste collection bags to climbers to help gather trash, which is then transported down by helicopter to collection points below.
Despite these efforts, the treacherous mountain continues to claim lives each year. Deaths typically occur in the “death zone” above 8,000 meters, where the air is too thin to sustain human life. In fact, once a climber enters the death zone, their body is essentially dying from the moment they arrive.
In 2017, 648 climbers successfully reached the summit of Everest, while six people were confirmed to have died on the mountain.
Concerns About Overcrowding
According to The Telegraph, the large number of people intending to climb Everest has raised concerns about overcrowding and the resulting risks. Each year, hundreds of climbers queue for hours on narrow ridges, increasing the risk of exhaustion, hypothermia, and death.
China’s decision to reduce the number of climbers from the northern side is seen as a necessary step to protect the environment and reduce risks for those who dare to dream of conquering the “roof of the world.”
Primary Sources:
Chinese state media – Announcement on climber reduction
The Telegraph – Analysis of overcrowding on Everest
The Himalayan Times – Statistics on Everest deaths in 2017
BBC News – Everest cleanup campaign coverage