Nepal is preparing to tighten regulations on who can climb Mount Everest, introducing a new law that would limit summit permits only to climbers who have previously conquered at least one 7,000-meter peak in the country. The move comes amid growing concerns over safety and overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain.
According to a proposal reported by Reuters, the bill is expected to pass in Nepal’s 59-member National Assembly, where the ruling coalition holds a majority. The new legislation also requires that lead guides and local support staff on Everest expeditions must be Nepali citizens, reinforcing local employment and accountability.
Climbing tourism is a significant contributor to Nepal’s national income. However, the country has faced criticism for allowing inexperienced climbers to attempt Everest after paying the necessary permit fee. This has led to dangerous bottlenecks in the so-called “death zone,” where oxygen levels are too low for human survival without assistance.
The Khumbu Icefall and the Hillary Step remain some of the most perilous sections of the climb, and the high number of climbers has been linked to increasing fatalities. In 2023 alone, 12 climbers died, five went missing, and Nepal issued 478 climbing permits.
Nepal has over 400 peaks open to expeditions, including 74 that rise above 7,000 meters. Yet only a few attract serious mountaineers, noted Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, head of 14 Peaks Expedition, who has climbed Everest eight times.
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