The highest camp on Mount Everest, South Col, is littered with garbage and frozen bodies, posing a daunting cleanup task that could take years to complete, according to Ang Babu Sherpa, who led a team tasked with this challenging endeavor. The Nepal government-funded team of soldiers and Sherpas managed to remove 11 tons (24,000 pounds) of garbage, four dead bodies, and a skeleton during this year’s climbing season.
Sherpa estimates that there could still be 40-50 tons (88,000-110,000 pounds) of garbage left at South Col, the last camp before climbers attempt to reach the summit. The debris, comprising old tents, food packaging, gas cartridges, oxygen bottles, tent packs, and climbing ropes, is frozen in layers at the 8,000-meter (26,400-foot) altitude where the camp is situated.
Since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first conquered Everest in 1953, thousands of climbers have attempted the ascent, often leaving behind more than just their footprints. While recent government regulations require climbers to bring back their garbage or forfeit their deposits, reducing the amount of new waste left behind, much of the existing garbage is from older expeditions.
The Sherpas worked in the high-altitude areas, while soldiers focused on lower levels and base camp. The harsh weather conditions at South Col, where oxygen levels are about one-third of normal, and the severe cold, made the task arduous. The team often had to wait for favorable weather to melt the ice covering the garbage and bodies, but extended waits were impractical due to the low oxygen levels and harsh conditions.
One particularly challenging task involved digging out a body frozen in a standing position near South Col, which took two days. The team had to pause their efforts due to deteriorating weather and resume when conditions improved. Another body, found at an even higher altitude of 8,400 meters (27,720 feet), took 18 hours to transport to Camp 2 for helicopter evacuation.
The bodies were flown to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for identification. Of the 11 tons of garbage removed, three tons of decomposable items were taken to nearby villages, while the remaining eight tons were transported to Kathmandu for recycling. The oldest item recovered was a rechargeable battery from 1957.
Sushil Khadga of Agni Ventures, an agency managing recyclable waste, explained that at such high altitudes, climbers prioritize their survival over cleaning up. The extreme conditions and low oxygen levels make life difficult, leading climbers and their helpers to focus more on saving themselves than on managing waste.
While the cleanup efforts mark a significant step towards addressing the pollution on Everest, the immense task ahead highlights the ongoing challenges posed by decades of accumulated waste on the world’s tallest mountain.
