'Traffic jam' risks on Mount Everest

The possibility of not being able to return from a climb has not deterred climbers from venturing to the summit of Everest. Evidence from numerous photos and videos showing the “traffic jams” caused by climbers in recent years has gone viral, shocking viewers.

This photo of climbers lining up to reach the summit of Everest was taken in May 2019 - the climbing season is considered "deadly"

“How the hell are there long lines on Everest, this is absolutely insane,” one person wrote in a TikTok video posted this month that has been viewed 2.5 million times. “Climbing Everest is becoming more and more like queuing at Disneyland on weekends,” another added.

“Where is the fast lane?” another quipped. “It’s like a rope park for rich people,” one added. Some even speculated that there would soon be a shop on the mountaintop.

Screenshot from a recent TikTok video that has attracted millions of views

Climbing Everest has become increasingly popular, despite being dangerous and expensive. Pent-up demand for travel due to the pandemic is believed to be behind this year's busy climbing season.

Most people climb the south side of Everest in Nepal and must buy permits from the government for about $11,000 each. Nepal issued a record 463 permits between March and May this year, earning the government about $5 million, Reuters reported.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, a climbing guide for Asian Trekking, said that each climber spends at least US$26,700 on an expedition in Nepal, including permit fees, gas, food, guides...

Scene of climbing a mountain on a rope

The reason for the “traffic jam” is not only due to the large number of climbers, but also because there is less chance of good weather for visitors to reach the summit, so the number of climbers will accumulate over a few days, which happened in 2019.

Almost to the top of Everest but feeling numb, what did the climber do?

The 2019 spring climbing season was marked by “death and chaos.” Eleven people died, making it one of the deadliest in years.

Climbers were forced to line up and wait at altitude before continuing their ascent, while others reported stepping over bodies as they walked down the mountain.

This photo was taken on May 31, 2021, showing a line of people climbing the slopes on Mount Everest.

Overcrowding and a large number of relatively inexperienced climbers are believed to have contributed to the deaths. This year’s death toll has already surpassed that of the “horror season” of 2019. There were 12 confirmed deaths during the spring 2023 climbing season and five people are missing.

One of those killed was Australian tourist Jason Kennison, who died three weeks ago from severe altitude sickness.

Traffic jams on Everest are not only inconvenient but also dangerous - especially at the so-called "death zone" in the last attempt of climbers to reach the summit at an altitude of over 8,000m.

Being stuck in a queue at such an altitude that climbers have to use oxygen tanks to survive is extremely dangerous.

Local guide carries an incapacitated climber down the mountain

Speaking to the BBC, Lukas Furtenbach, who runs an Austria-based tour company, said the combination of the highest peak and "one of the most dangerous places on earth" is what attracts people to Everest.

He stressed the importance of making oxygen readily available in crowded settings and said all operators should have measures in place to ensure their customers never run out of oxygen.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-tac-duong-tren-dinh-everest-185230612141107193.htm