Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, has become an iconic destination for adventurers. Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent in 1953, the number of climbers attempting the summit has surged. In 2019 alone, over 58,000 tourists visited Sagarmatha National Park, home to Everest.

This increase in climbers has brought a significant environmental crisis. The mountain, once pristine, is now littered with trash and frozen bodies, a grim reminder of the price of fame and ambition.

 

A Growing Graveyard

Mount Everest is not just a peak; it's a graveyard. Between 1990 and 2019, over 300 climbers lost their lives on the mountain. Many bodies remain there, frozen and unclaimed due to the extreme conditions, Earth.org reports.

Retrieving these bodies is perilous, often endangering the lives of rescue teams. As a result, more than 200 corpses remain on the slopes, adding to the environmental and ethical dilemmas.

 

The Human Waste Crisis

Human waste is a severe problem on Everest, the Washington Post reports. Climbers often leave behind excrement, contaminating the environment. The lack of a solid waste management system means human waste is dispersed by glaciers, especially during the summer monsoon season.

Despite efforts to haul waste to landfills near Gorak Shep, much of it ends up washing downstream, posing health risks to both climbers and local communities. Annually, approximately 5,400 kilograms of human waste are collected from base camps.

The Burden of Solid Waste

Solid waste is another critical issue. Everest is estimated to be covered in around 30 tonnes of garbage, much of it from older expeditions. Tents, ropes, gas stoves, and oxygen bottles are just some of the items abandoned on the mountain, according to the Associated Press.

A 2019 study found microplastics in all snow samples collected from Everest, with the highest concentration at Everest Base Camp. To combat this, Nepal implemented a deposit scheme in 2014 requiring climbers to return with eight kilograms of waste each to receive their deposit back Earth.org reports.

Cleanup campaigns, such as the army-led Mountain Clean-up Campaigns in 2019 and 2023, have removed significant amounts of waste.

 

Ongoing Cleanup Efforts

Nepal's tourism department, in collaboration with mountaineering groups, has launched an ambitious cleanup initiative. This 45-day project aims to remove 11 tonnes of garbage from the mountain, the Washington Examiner reports.

So far, more than three tonnes have been brought down, with plans to recover additional bodies. Ang Babu Sherpa, who led a team of Sherpas in a government-funded cleanup effort, noted significant challenges, including extreme weather and low oxygen levels, reports the South China Morning Post.

The team removed 11 tonnes of garbage and several bodies, but much more remains, particularly at South Col, the last camp before the summit.

Challenges and Solutions

Cleaning up Everest will take years. The volume of waste and the harsh environment make it a daunting task. The Nepali government has implemented measures to reduce pollution, but more comprehensive strategies are needed. This includes stricter regulations on expedition traffic, better waste management practices, and increased education for climbers and local communities.

Everest's beauty and majesty are being marred by the very people who seek to conquer it. The environmental crisis on Everest is a stark reminder of the impact of human activity on even the most remote places.

Without urgent and sustained action, the world's tallest peak will continue to suffer under the weight of its popularity.