Mount Everest Climbers Asked To Bring Their Poop To Base Camp. Here's Why
NDTV
Climbers will need to purchase "poop bags" at the base camp. These bags will be "checked upon their return".
Mount Everest climbers have been asked to clear their poop and bring it back to the base camp so that it can be disposed of, as per a report in the BBC. The decision has been taken by the Pasang Lhamu rural municipality since the "mountains have begun to stink" because the excrement does not fully degrade due to extreme temperatures in the region.
Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, told the outlet, "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable and erodes our image." The people who want to climb the highest mountain in the world and neighbouring Mount Lhotse will need to purchase "poop bags" at the base camp. These bags will be "checked upon their return".
Notably, during the climbing season, mountaineers spend long durations at base camp where separate tents are made for toilets and other necessities. However, they tend to dig a hole to poop once they begin climbing but certain areas have less snowfall, necessitating climbers to defecate in the open. Only a few individuals bring their excrement back in biodegradable bags when climbing the Mount Everest Summit.
