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- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Who would want the pristine white peaks of Mount Everest to stink? However, mountaineers who climb these snow-covered tall beauties relieve themselves on their way making faeces a common pollutant on these mountains. Chairman of Pasang Lhamu rural municipality which covers most of the Everest regions said, "Our mountains have begun to stink," reported BBC.
The human excrement left behind in the mountains does not fully disintegrate because of extreme cold temperatures. "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable and erodes our image," Mingma adds.
In the backdrop of this, climbers venturing out to Mount Everest and nearby Mount Lhotse will be directed to buy poo bags at base camps which will be "checked upon their return".
"Mountaineers have been using such bags on Mount Denali (the highest peak in North America) and in the Antarctic as well, that is why we have been advocating for it," Mingma, who is also an advisor to the Nepal Mountaineering Association said.
"This will all change now. We will run a contact office and make sure our new measures, including making climbers bring back their excrement, are implemented."
"Waste remains a major issue, especially in higher up camps where you can't reach," said Chhiring Sherpa, Chief Executive Officer of the non-government organisation Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC).
Even though there are no official figures, it was estimated that there are around three tonnes of human excrement between camp one at the bottom of Everest and camp four, towards the summit.
With the rising number of climbers there has been a significant increase in waste on Everest.
Stephan Keck, an international mountain guide who also organises expeditions to Everest, said South Col has gained a reputation as an "open toilet".
At 7,906 metres (25,938 feet) high, South Col serves as the base before climbers attempt to reach the Everest and Lhotse summits. Here, the terrain is very windswept.
"There is hardly any ice and snow, so you will see human stools all around," Mr Keck says.
