KATHMANDU, June 2: A freelance rescue pilot in the Mount Everest has said the world’s tallest mountain is losing its dignity due to heavy traffic of mountaineers in the recent years. Maurizio Folini, an Italian citizen who has been working in Nepal as rescue pilot in every climbing season for the last seven years, said that anyone without experience in scaling mountains should not be allowed to scale Mount Everest (8848m).
Folini suggested the Government of Nepal to rethink its policy of giving permission to climb the mountain. “The government should set a certain criteria on climbing Mount Everest so that it could maintain its dignity,” Folini told Republica recently before wrapping up his rescue work of this season.
When asked why he has not yet attempted to climb Mount Everest, Folini said: “Mount Everest has become a general peak these days. Anybody comes and attempts to reach on the top of the world’s highest peak. But I love to explore mountains than to set records.”
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The 52-two year old rescue pilot, who has already ascended dozens of mountains including Ama Dablam and Kanchenjunga in Nepal as well as mountains of Europe, thinks Mount Everest is suffering due to heavy traffic and pollution. “I love Mount Everest but I prefer to work there as a rescue pilot rather than a climber,” he added. Folini, who has worked for Kailash Helicopter Service, said: “Problems in Nepali mountains like garbage, rescue service and poor management should be taken seriously and action should be taken immediately to improve the situation in these areas.”
“Moreover, for the rescue service, the major problem is that of fuel. It should to be sorted out right away,” he added. He further said that helicopter service companies in Nepal needed to have an improved management. They needed to have more experienced pilots and should train its crew more effectively and more frequently.
