KATHMANDU: Given a surge in the number of climbers this season, Nepalese officials are making preparations for a “traffic jam” at Mount Everest. According to the Department of Tourism, this year, there would be around 400 climbers who will embark on the journey to scale the 8,848 metre-high mountain from mid-May. As they are often accompanied by high altitude workers, who are usually more in numbers than that of climbers, there could possibly be around 1,000 individuals aspiring to conquer Everest.
A local media news report said that a good weather means expedition teams will start climbing from camps two, three, and four, resulting in a “traffic jam”. Sonam Sherpa, who has scaled Mt Everest five times, said, “Everyone will be in a hurry to reach the peak when the weather clears, there is no management up there to fix turns for the climbers. So there is a possibility of a traffic jam this year. Returning climbers in general have depleted stock of oxygen with them and they are exhausted, which means life hangs in the balance.”
It is also highly likely that those with a 2014 permission will return to scale the peak this year. The government had introduced a new law allowing climbers a three years' window to scale Mt Everest with a single permit and fare. Information officer at the Department of Tourism, Durgadatta Dhakal said, “This is the final year of the three-year period and the climbers who had taken permission earlier have also arrived to ensure that they do not miss the chance. That is why the number of climbers this season is so high.”
Programme officer of the Everest Pollution Control Committee, Kapindra Rai said that 267 climbers have already begun trekking from Namche to the Everest base camp this year.
