KATHMANDU, April 30: The Government of Nepal plans to tighten regulations on Everest climbing by allowing only climbers who have summited at least one 7,000-meter peak in the country to receive a permit. The provision is part of a new draft law aimed at improving safety and reducing overcrowding on the world’s highest peak.
The National Assembly, where the ruling alliance holds a majority, has already registered the draft bill. Officials cited increasing concerns over the dangers posed by a surge in inexperienced climbers on Everest. In recent years, climbers have formed long queues in the “death zone,” an area near the summit with critically low oxygen levels.
More than 400 climbers receive permits to Mt Everest
Overcrowding has contributed to a rise in fatalities. In 2023, 12 climbers died and five went missing on Everest, when authorities issued a record 478 climbing permits. The year before, eight climbers lost their lives.
Under the proposed law, climbers must present proof of successfully summiting a 7,000-meter mountain in Nepal before applying for an Everest permit. It also mandates that the head of the local support team and mountain guides be Nepali citizens.
Although the law applies to climbs within Nepal, international expedition operators have urged the government to recognize experience from 7,000-meter peaks outside the country. Climbing and trekking remain major contributors to Nepal’s foreign currency earnings and play a vital role in the national economy.
_20230802105002.jpg)
