Nepalese Officials Seek To Ban Disabled, Old, Young, And Novice Climbers From Climbing Everest
Due to the high number of accidents on Everest in recent years, new regulations may soon go into effect on the world’s highest summit in an attempt to improve climber safety and the mountain landscape. The regulations will directly affect old, young, disabled, and novice climbers.
If the proposed plan is implemented, permits will only be offered to experienced climbers who have climbed peaks over 6,500 meters. It will also ban disabled climbers and limit anyone under 18 or over 75 from climbing the mountain. Climbers will have to prove that they are competent.
According to Kripasur Sherpa, the country’s tourism minister, he hopes to set new rules for the spring season. He was quoted on the Guardian as saying, ““We cannot let everyone go on Everest and die. If they are not physically and mentally fit it will be like a legal suicide.”
The new regulations will help to monitor who is on the mountain, how many people attempt to climb the mountain, and help to preserve the mountain environment. Regulations similar to these have been discussed in the past, but have not been implemented. Nepal sees climbing permits as a large source of income, so it will be interesting to see how this impacts Everest in the future. Thoughts?
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