An Indian mountaineer’s video capturing a lengthy queue of climbers awaiting a fleeting opportunity of favorable weather to ascend Mount Everest has reignited apprehensions regarding safety and overcrowding on the world’s highest peak.
During the annual climbing season from March to May, adventurers from across the globe flock to Nepal, braving the treacherous Himalayan terrain, with aspirations of conquering the towering 8,849-meter summit shared between Nepal and Tibet.
In the video shared by Rajan Dwivedi, an Indian mountaineer, on Instagram, a seemingly endless line of climbers can be observed inching forward in single file, depicting what social media users have dubbed a human “traffic jam” on the slopes of Everest. Dwivedi lamented the harrowing experience of navigating the congested descent, emphasizing in the caption accompanying the footage, “Mount Everest is not a joke.”
The disturbing spectacle captured in the video precedes the disappearance of British climber Daniel Paterson, 39, and his Nepali guide, Pas Tenji, 23, adding urgency to the ongoing debate surrounding the perilous conditions exacerbated by overcrowding.
Concerns over the burgeoning number of climbers and the resultant congestion on the mountain have been mounting in recent years, compounded by environmental degradation from littering. In 2019, despite the issuance of 380 permits, overcrowding on Everest led to protracted delays, with climbers enduring frigid temperatures and plummeting oxygen levels, precipitating illness and exhaustion.
Last year witnessed a record 463 permits issued for Mount Everest, with the Nepalese authorities scaling back slightly this year to 403 permits in response to escalating concerns.
However, the pursuit of reaching Everest’s summit, while alluring, remains fraught with peril. The fate of Mr. Paterson and his guide underscores the inherent risks, with the duo feared dead after a fall from a treacherous altitude. Search efforts have been hampered by the challenging terrain on the Chinese side of the mountain, where they are believed to have fallen.
The Hillary Step, a notorious feature at approximately 8,800 meters, is emblematic of Everest’s unforgiving “death zone,” characterized by oxygen deprivation and perilous air pressure, rendering prolonged exposure fatal.
Tragically, this climbing season, which draws hundreds of mountaineers seeking the temperate conditions of May, has seen the disappearance of four climbers since May 22, according to reports.
As the climbing season draws to a close, the precarious allure of Everest persists, beckoning adventurers to test their mettle against nature’s formidable challenges, while raising pressing questions about the sustainability and safety of high-altitude mountaineering.