Everest's INSANE Garbage Problem & What's Being Done To Fix It
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2021
- Respect to you all. Thank you for watching. Keep it positive and share the love!
THIS LIVE EVENT WAS PRESENTED FOR THE Musa Masala organization. We never could have anticipated so many people taking an interest in this topic. PLEASE VISIT their site and consider making a donation: musamasala.com/about-musa/
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ABOUT THE EVEREST and THE MYSTERY OF MALLORY & IRVINE VISIT: thehappinessquotient.buzzspro...
I recently hosted a live streaming event for the Musa Masala organization, who in their multiple capacities of advancing safe and ethical mountain travel are raising money for the Wongchu Memorial Hospital….a good cause indeed.
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Here you will find an abbreviated release of the LIVE STREAMING event, featuring Thom Pollard's interviews with:
6:10 - Peter Hillary - son of Sir Edmund Hillary
11:06 - David Liaño Gonzalez - 7-time Everest summiter
18:39 - Yangji Doma Sherpa - Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
23:18 - Damian Benegas - Benegas Brothers Expeditions
29:09 - Dan Mazur - Everest Biogas Project ( www.mteverestbiogasproject.org )
35:45 - Diana Youself - Founder & CEO of change:Waater Labs.
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Our event discussed the garbage and human waste problem on Everest and the Khumbu region - Episode #87 of The Happiness Quotient features my interview with Peter Hillary about the current situation on Everest, wherein he gives a good picture of the Khumbu region but not so much of a good picture on the mountain, Everest, itself.
That episode can be found here:
www.buzzsprout.com/268133/876...
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Many of you have I’m sure heard Everest referred to as the highest garbage dump on the planet. It’s shocking image for someone who has not visited there to conjure up their idea of Everest, the unknown frontier, the far reaches of our planet being tarnished by the image of its overuse and the carelessness at the hands of those who come there seeking adventure and, let’s face, ego gratification.
This video features short segments of interviews taken from the July 22, 2021 Live Event itself. If you enjoy the presentation, please consider supporting Musa Masala using one of the links below.
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IMPORTANT LINKS
Donate to Musa Masala:
www.paypal.com/paypalme/musam...
Shop with Us to support our ongoing work:
musamasala.com/the-musa-store/
Visit the GoFundMe Page in honor of our friend, Gary McLean.
All funds raised will go to the Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Hospital and the Musa Masala Nursing Scholarship Program, projects Gary was actively involved in. Contribute here:
gofund.me/3017e2cd
Connect with host, Thom Pollard:
eyesopenproductions.com/
/ thom.dharma.pollard
/ thom.pollard
I never understood why people who claim to revere and love Mt. Everest, yet they leave tents, poles, oxygen bottles, trash, etc... Pack it in, pack it out!!
These so-called lovers of Mount Everest don't pack it in themselves. That's why they pay fifty thousand plus dollars and they obviously could care less if the garbage comes back down with them or not. I think it's a joke both countries allow this to happen on that mountain. Every person that goes up that mountain on both sides should be itemized and if you don't come back with those items you are fined and not allowed to come back. Those fines should pay for people going up to clean it up. They should be massive fines. You should be forced to pay the fine up front. When you come back down and prove you brought out what you brought in you get your fine back. That goes for the Sherpas as well. It's a shame what western culture has done to the Sherpas. I couldn't believe some of the pictures of all of the people and Sherpas pounding beers around the shrine days before they climb. This was not like this in the past. It's amazing what money and drugs will do to an entire culture. Western Civilization brings some amazing things to mankind but it sure can crumble it at the same time.
@@robk5437 Totally agree!
@@robk5437 Thank you for watching in its entirety. You found out in the video that the garbage problem does not exist in China because they are very strict about it. If the National Park system in the USA said it's okay to litter, it would be trashed. But, the parks levy fines and there is a huge stigma against littering there. In Nepal, the rules are more lax. Again, since you watched the video you learned that the trekking trails and the situation at Base Camp is very much under control and has improved 1,000-percent since the days it was called the 'toilet paper trail'. Up high on the mountain, there are frankly too many people. Some of the expedition organizers have so many climbers on a permit that they shift their focus to the human element, therefore the cleanup effort is left behind. In terms of the Sherpa culture, they have benefitted greatly from this influx of climbers and trekkers. They are now the among the wealthiest class in the country of Nepal and regarded very highly. I'd venture to say that they would disagree with you that what 'the western culture has done' is anything but amazing and beautiful. As for the beers during the puja: there is always a celebration following the puja. Nowadays teams can bring in cases of beer. In the old days it was rakshi and channg, traditional drinks made from a fermentation process. Please let me know what you are referring to when you suggest that drugs have done something to the culture. I'm clueless on this point, as I honestly don't know what this refers to. Many thanks for caring and truly having a stake in this. I appreciate that you watched the video, as the ultimate aim of of it is to leave the viewer with a sense of hope..... UA-cam analytics show me the average view time, and it tells that the majority of the comments here are from those who haven't watched even past ten minutes. Thanks again, stay positive and have a stellar day. Thanks again for caring about the environment, as we need people like you to give a darn.
@@robk5437 just ban mankind from going up it at all
@@freebird1ification Best solution. Close the mountain for 10 or 20 years.
It costs 40K-70k for guide service to climb Everest. These are wealthy people acting like slobs.
there's a lot of cheaper services and many people do it on credit/loans.... If you finish the video you'll hear things have since improved drastically.. still your criticism of the slobs has lots of merit
Thank you for watching, much appreciated!
This does exist....hopefully, the video answered some of the concerns. Thanks for watching....
Chris Tamblyn: Yes we know who they are.
Most wealthy people are slobs. They just pay people to clean up after them.
I watched a recent doco on Everest which was not about the rubbish BUT I was struck by the obvious amount of rubbish! Even one of the camera men was filmed taking a bottle of wee out of his tent and tipping it out, someone yelled out “no”. He didn’t even attempt to dig a hole and cover it. I found the amount of rubbish shocking. About time climbers are charged a large entry fee to pay Sherpa teams to control the rubbish and waste. This would give the Sherpa a well paid job. Climbers clearly have no regard for the environment of the mountain 😕
Agreed on the idea for some method to better control the waste up high on the mountain. When it comes to pee, though, I don't think there is anything egregious about pouring your pee bottle out in Base Camp, as long as it's not where someone is sleeping. Urine is sterile, and 95% water, with trace amounts of minerals. Solid human waste is definitely a problem. Thank you so much for watching and for caring!
Male pee smells worse than female bahahah😂
@Janitor Queen What? I had no clue that there was even a difference in male and female pee, but then again, I don't make it a point to smell people's pee ether. Why is there a difference?
When you go out into nature, you should only leave your footprints when you return. Simple as that. Who does not is an asshole. Period.
@@WarbandGames i mean if you didn’t then bears are gonna join the camping trip. i don’t even go camping and i can’t imagine going out there and not doing these things
Simply said, yup!
The people that can afford to go all crowd in like its an amusement park, shit and litter all over, and leave. What a shame
Truth....hopefully, you found some positive things in this video. The people I interviewed care deeply about Everest.
This is such a huge issue, it's like a crime against the planet! We all need to do our part, even where we are. Those that easily have the wealth need to invest in cleaning beautifying, and maintaining. There would be no shortage of volunteers, but it needs to start with education. Thank you for bringing more light to this subject and for showing us the organizations that are taking this on! From Elisabeth, Illinois .
So true....thank you! I believe that there are many who take short cuts, and on Everest it's magnified because everyone is watching. Hopefully, this video is one small step in the many we need to move things forward in protecting the mountain and making it clean. Thank you for your thoughts!
Its typical of greed. Making money but being irresponsible about it. Reminds me of the gold rush days. Man moved in. Made mining camps. Made money and left the areas trashed! This is what greedy human beings do.
It's a sad state of affairs when a collection of educated, motivated and passionate people can't find a way. The folks in the video are an inspiration! Thank you for watching....
Good good good! I am so thrilled to see attention to things like this.
Please share this with anyone who might be interested, including on social media....wherever we can reach more people! Thank you
Why?
Greetings and thank you for visiting. Please watch the entire program before you comment, as many of the questions or comments are answered by the six guests within the program itself. Given that UA-cam provides analytics of how long the average watch time is of this program, it's clear that many post a comment before viewing.
This program was put together as a one-off livestream event to raise awareness and funds for an organization that supports a hospital in a remote region of Nepal (see the show notes). Our hopes were purely to raise awareness and to gain an understanding of how human impact is changing the Everest region of Nepal.
If you enjoy the presentation and want to show some support, please visit the Musa Masala organization website and donation page (seen in the show notes).
Thank you for visiting! Namaste.
Didn't know that about waiting to comment. Will try to wait in future 😀
What an interesting conversation.
Great job putting this together.
Thank you 🙏
1 year shut down from climbing any climbing to clean up the goddess would be awesome as a climber myself I believe it can be cleaned up well
99% of the climbers would never summit without the Sherpas to provide their every need.
This is true, and most of the sherpas would not bother climbing Everest unless foreigners paid them to.
@@paulhunt505 even tho i agree with the first comment, yours i find hard to believe. very hard to believe
@@user-jp5zj7hk6m I believe in it.Only money drive them up.Otherwise what?Nepal authorities should be responsibile too for managment of the place-they receive a lot of money from tourism
I'm not a climber, I'm not much of a camper but I do enjoy a nice hike. Even I know the basic rule that if you bring it in you take it out. Aren't climbers and trekkers supposed to love the mountains? Aren't they reliant on the natural places for their adventures? I get upset stepping in dog poop in the park. I don't think I could handle stepping in human waste!!!
Right on....Everest is the object of scorn for many who only see the images of the garbage and waste. I hope you enjoyed this program and would love it if you shared it with friends who might be interested.... Thank you!
@@EverestMystery I enjoy many of your podcasts and will share with friends and family. The podcast you did about the school in Brooklyn was fantastic.
I don't look at Everest with scorn, it fascinates me. As a non climber I really question why people like me (little to no experience) are even on the mountain. This will result in more disasters and death. Why should someone like me be afforded the honor without the work just because I can afford it?
@@StandedInUtah thank you for the support, I truly appreciate it....
It's not like littering at your local community park or hiking trail, where you go every weekend. These people will never step foot on Everest again...out of sight, out of mind
@@esfitnesspro2455 I think people who will litter someplace they go only once are the type who will litter no matter where they are or how many times they go.But why wouldn't the people in charge of the teams, or those who actually have manners and wouldn't dare dump their garbage in nature, say something?
I don’t climb in any way but the title of this video had me interested in just how bad the garbage is there. Wow.
I admit, there is a tad amount of click-bait in the title. In the big picture, this detritus of climbers is only in the areas where they climb....the rest of the mountain is vast beyond one's imagination. Essentially, it's a very small area. However, the video really brings up the question of keeping this resource clean for future seasons and future generations. The majority of teams and climbers bring down what they bring up and many bring down more than they carry up. The problem, as my guest Damian Benegas explains, is that there are frankly too many permits issued to individual companies, taxing their resources and manpower. It's a money grab....to be blunt. Thank you for watching, I truly appreciate it!
stop all permits till ALL trash is removed.... nothing should be allowed to be left on mountain...
So true it's a disgrace
I live in a rural area known as an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). People come from miles and miles to hike. They bring backpacks full of supplies, and leave all their rubbish where they drop it. It’s disgusting. Makes you wonder what (if anything) goes on in their brains. Because if everyone did as they do, it certainly wouldn’t be a beautiful environment.
Wow yes and thank you for sharing. What seems to happen very frequently is that the ire of many people who disagree with litter and waste is that they point at the Everest world as rich, entitled thugs. Truth is, this is happening everywhere. Everest is just a microcosm of it. Hell, there are only 10% of the sharks left in the ocean. The anthropocene epoch is damaging our fine planet. This Everest story gets the conversation started. Thank you for watching....where you live sounds exceptionally beautiful!
Yeah. The Swedish have Allemansrätten which is, or was, taught to kids in school…. The importance of taking care of their wild places was of utmost importance. Unfortunately not many children are taught this simple concept. A shame.
Any chance those people could be tined?
You would think that these obviously wealthy folks, would have some appreciation of nature etc as before its all said and done, pay close to perhaps 100k when all the variables are taken into account. I have an idea, pay the Sherpas to clean up these camps to restore nature that they have no problem trampling on every year. The Sherpas make this all happen, so keep them busy at a decent rate of pay, long after your gone.
Larry I'm so glad you watched this. The deeper dive into the story is so interesting...let me know what you thought about it, and PLEASE share this. Thank you
There is no know connection between wealth and keeping things clean.. manners in actual fact are gained from example .
If you're wealthy you have someone trim your hedge , sweep your floor , collect your rubbish .
In my experience manners are fast being lost to each generation . People feel that jobs are beneath them and less and less men get out of their house and pick up rubbish .
They are embarrassed .. or their ego is synthetic . But beneath it all they lack manners .
Making excuses not to take your rubbish home are made by weaklings who should not be on the mountains .
If you cannot hack it , you are not worthy of saying you climbed it.
Sliming rather than climbing
I dont agree with making the sherpas clean up after millionaires. I think they should be the garbage police up there. You leave trash they report you and you dont go home till you pay serious fines. If you can pack it in you can pack it out if the sherpas can carry your damm candy bar up you can carry the wrapper down
In my line of work, I've come across many wealthy people who don't really know how to do basic things. I am not joking when I say this. And I can only attribute it to the fact that they pay assistants to do everything for them.
How about the abuse of Yaks? Carrying heavier and heavier crap every year.
The human waste dumping is disgusting .. anyone climbing up Everest should be ashamed of themselves ..
Watching these guys chatting about the solution .. the solution is to take it home in your suit case .
Lazy articles
This is a problem around the world, with Everest being a focal point of attention. I hope this program raises awareness. Yes, the problem (at least up high on the mountain) can be solved by people taking responsibility for their own waste. Many cannot be bothered with it....
Thanks for tackling the topic positively and discussing solutions. Climbers and trekkers are very aware of the environment. It's too easy to just blame rich western "tourist" climbers paying for a selfie on top. Let's not pretend the Neplaese local authorities or Sherpas are all pure and perfect. They bear a big chunk of the responsibility too. The quality of education and governance shows up in these matters... Rubbish on Everest, the trekking trails and the impact on local resources has been a known problem since I was in Nepal in the early 80's.
Bruce, you nailed it. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment....it's much appreciated.
Good point! I've heard random fact lists mention the trash issue, but not solutions. Thom really does try to include positives & lessons in all stories.
This was absolutely fascinating, thank you.
Thanks mate.. first video I've seen regarding this subject
Everest: The World's tallest landfill / boneyard.
Garbage can
I think the term is graveyard
I read 12 tonnes of human waste at base camp on google..how sick and disgusting
he literally started off the video saying how that statement bothered him and then you comment it like it was gonna get you a lot of likes
Those who truly love these places never visit them for this very reason.
I understand the sentiment. However, Everest is a commodity that the government of Nepal uses for income. In 2021 they earned $4.5M US dollars in climbing permit fees alone. This trend is not going to change, no matter what we could ever say or do. In China, it's different. They don't need the income and therefore strictly limit permits on the mountain. I deeply love the place and therefore will continue to visit, and at the same time advocate for taking better care of it.
Excellent video! When you see pics of the traffic jam at the summit, you gotta ask what’s the point?
Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world, it’s easy to hike, it’s beautiful, and is clean. No O2 required and you are likely to survive and return to your loved ones.
I think someone should go to Mauna Kea Base Camp how many ever thousands of feet under the ocean and climb it that way....that would make the news! If you do it, please invite me to the after party! Thanks for watching :)
They need to inflate fees to pay for a cleanup project. Then a plan needs to generated for the care and maintenance of region protecting the environment. If people want to climb Everest then they need to pay out the nose for the privilege.
I just have to say that those sherpas don't get enough credit for what they do everyday . Their hard work and risking their lives go unnoticed and unappreciated.
That isn't really the issue now is it?
Sherpa’s leave the garbage up there. I’m not saying that it is their garbage but I’ve heard from multiple Canadian climbers that the sherpas are paid well to carry as much rubbish down as is safely possible. Maybe all these rich thrill seekers should follow Canadian example and reward the Locals and keep the mountain pristine.
normies who have literally no nepalese mountain climbing experience love virtue signal about the sherpa.. They imagine they're still like poor, slaves. This is the bigotry of low expectations. After 70 years of dealing with foreigners . many are now savvy capitalists who run massive million dollar guide programs. You think they'd see and hear the outside guides making huge money and just wouldnt do the same? The truth is the sherpa and nepalese are one of the main profiters/exploiters of mount everest. The country sells the permits..Did you even watch the video? The country has improved drastically from money made off everest. The garbage just needs to be controlled ..the sherpa are respected by most serious climbers
@@rbimastro9772People imagine them as poor,dumb,slaves,, meanwhile sherpa have been working there for over 70 years. They're now extremely savvy and wise to ways of world They know what the top companies are making so Many have opened guide services (or work with them) getting massive bookings. Millions of dollars, of course they're not above littering. They also will beat your ass if you disrespect them. I.E the ueli steck brawl
@@MichaelPhillips-jw4bj good for them. I don’t think they are poor slaves. I wouldn’t even dare visit base camp. All I said was that certain climbers care about the environment and pay a premium when hiring guides to ensure there is no trace of waste left behind. If they take money to trek down the trash after summit, complete the damn mission, or at least don’t go whining about foreigners littering.
Thank you Thom for the video. I’ve always found the topic of Everest intensely interesting. I honestly think people should stop destroying the topography. These days folks die up there running out of oxygen and getting weakened by altitude sickness waiting in line. Sherpas should refuse to help.
I don't understand why we even have to talk about that. One would think anyone who goes into any nature would have the heart and character to take all his shit out again or pay someone to do so. But what we see at Everest says enough about those climbers and companies. Anyone who leaves trash in nature doesn't deserve to be there.yes it is that simple!!! Namste
Thank you for taking the time to watch. This is unfortunately a problem everywhere in the world....in the USA people are dumping raw sewage on the sides of trails in national parks. Things are out of hand. The government of Nepal and the permit system, the addition of strict fines or total bans, I believe, is one way to help solve this problem.
My only gripe about your comment is for those who are on the mountain, for, no fault of their own, are face with a "go down now or die" situation. Sometime you can't "leave it better than you found it" when it could be your own body that becomes the mountain's litter. I agree that the prayer flags are crappy because they're so large and they seem to be purposefully left there, which I think is wrong...even from the standpoint that someone could trip on one and slide of the cliff.
@@robertbeckman2054 right on and good call. In China/Tibet, they are more strict about leaving garbage (tents, gear, etc) high up on the mountain. However, the authorities make it known that they won't fine a team that abandons their camp in a life or death situation.
Just think, as spring melting snow washing human waste down into rivers , I think people and animals will suffer horrible consequences from drinking what used to be clean water.
And the highest cemetery......
Essentially....yes. Thank you for stopping by...
I love Everest, and I love your channel so much.
I'm really happy that you are here and appreciate that you let me know!
more than 100,000 people have shit on that mountain multiple times. Due too Cold it takes a long time to decay in the ice and snow.
And the numbers increase each season. The people in this video inspire me that if enough people cared, this could be fixed. Thanks for watching....
Great video!
Thanks Thom. GREAT Show & it was an honour to watch u & Peter talking, especially knowing it’s been cleaned up!
Jane, this means so much, THANK YOU! I truly appreciate your kindness :)
Thanks a lot for this! Really interesting
Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching....
I’ve seen the waste problems as others have talked about it also.Now it has become almost Disneyland like and many people are there at one time.Im sure its almost impossible to keep up with it cause none of the money to cimb there is getting funded back to the mountain itself for that purpose.What has to be done is limit the people who come each year to 200-300 with maybe a special 100 permits by monetary auction.Pick all of the climbers on that raffle style drawing.Charge them twice as much,with half going strictly towards a mountain care fund managed by a local to handle the clean up expenses.That is pay goes to the workers and maintenance cost as will be needed.This way the Sherpas that cant climb anymore have a way to still make good funds and still be on the mountain helping take care of her.That way the climbers can spread out the season,less on the bottlenecks and mountain traffic.Funds are still being made and people are still able to climb.I get the dream of climbing Everest yet it cant be for everyone.It was like that before us westerners made it commercial.People will accept it and always still have a chance to climb in a lifetime.These are the things that must be done.You shouldnt be able to sell your pass off,you who won the raffle can go only.If you cant someone else can gets picked in your spot by raffle.The fix is easy and the people can still survive with the money coming in.You’ll still have tourism and visitors it just wont be as many climbing to the top.You could set up and manage half climbs for people who just want to see it and not take the risk.Localize everything you will need to come from the area.The point is actually a big change in procedure and protocol must be done.This can be for all the tall peaks there.Not everything should be in excess and thats what man needs to finally accept and we should start living on this blue dot flying through the galaxy at crazy speed responsibly finally.We as a race are not gonna last if we keep this pace up with out managing our resources properly.We really are becoming a serious cancer on this planet and pretty soon there wont be a cure.
It shouldn't matter how high the hill , someone will always drop something by accident and someone will always pick it up and take it home.
It's good something is happening to address it .
Good job man
Regards from Ireland
Thanks for the video. Nice guitars and amp.
Thank you for watching, love those axes and amp very much!
I learned to ski, rock climb, snowshoe, backpack, etc during the mid 1970's. The ethos then was to steer away from the use of pitons & bolts for rock climbing, and was moving steadily towards the use of camming types of protection that would cause minimal damage to the rock. In addition, I was taught growing up as a hunter to minimize my impact in the forest, and all of the people that I participated in outdoor activities with at that time fully embraced the ethics of leaving no trace of ourselves in the forests, glaciers, or rock faces where we climbed.
When I first became aware of the incredible garbage dump, and cesspool, that all of the Himalayan peaks, especially Mount Everest, had become several decades ago; my first thoughts were that those who were attempting to climb these mountains had completely lost their spiritual way.
How could anyone climbing Everest claim to revere the mountain, when in order to summit the peak, it became mandatory to leave absolutely stunning amounts of equipment, trash, and human waste on the mountain as the logistics of survival left one with virtually no other choice. It seemed to me then, and it is even more apparent to me here in 2022,
People down the valley have had poop in their water for years!
The yaks and dzos amount for a substantive amount of it... Thank you for stopping by!
Close it down.
Clean it up.
Keep it closed.
People are trashing prestine areas all over.
Big Sur hwy 1 humans are trashing the area.
If we can't behave. Close it down.
Thank you for bringing this to us.
I published my comment in your other video about K2 garbage problem and that comment is also for this video about the every mountains in the world and every traveling pleases on the planet
I would charge a security deposit of 10k dollars on top of normal permit fees. If you get down the mountain and don't leave any trash, you get it back.
What do people expect given that anybody who can beg, borrow, steal or come up with 30k can go there. Put some kind of prerequisites / certification system in place. Unfortunately it's a money grab for the governments / entities that issue the permits as well as the locals.
Guide companies should be the ones held accountable not the locals tourists are the ones leaving the garbage there they rich that pay for a climb should have more respect for these areas but to regulate this would be very difficult of course unless they have a permamant liason at base camp.
Truth, and a limit on the number of permits issued each season, as they do in China. The other side of the mountain has essentially none of these problems. Cheers, thanks for watching!
K-2 is nuts too!! 😩🤔🇺🇲🏂⛷️🏔️⛰️🗻🏞️🗑️
That's really ashame...ppl are so disrespectful
We need more people like the ones in this video, that's for sure!
I think we should build escalators to Mt. Everest so it would be easy for everyone and they can all have selfie moment.
(I am being sarcastic)
I have actually heard plans for China to build a tram up to the North Col, which is at 23,000 feet in elevation, or 7,010 meters. They have essentially built a modern superhighway to Base Camp and are building a mountaineering center the size of five Wal-mart super stores. It's actually happening. Due to the difficulty of reaching Base Camp in Nepal, it will not be in any of our lifetimes that one won't need to trek a week to 10 days to get there. Thank you for watching!
@@EverestMystery I hope there will be a BIG avalanche and scrape all that structure down to the foot of the mountain.
And in the process, teach them a lesson a or two.
Sort of like story of Babel tower.
@@Pau_Pau9 ever heard of Sarcasm
The problem with fining companies is that they'll happily pay it and simply factor it in to their charges.
Yes, so true.....you nailed it. The fines need to be in line with something that would make them think twice.
@@EverestMysteryBut, then would not such steep fines only allow the wealthy (whom so many people seem to detest) be the only people able to climb? I know a lot of people want reduced permits and people, and I know an adventure like that today already prices many enthusiasts out. Just asking the question. Maybe the very people suggesting the high fines don't realize that they would be writing themselves out of the experience.
I don't know why serious climber want to climb Everest today ?. Its just a circus. standing on a top full of garbage ? Get rid of the guide system. If you cant climb without guided tours, start with a easier mountain.
Benegas is right, they have to kindergarden many "Climbers"
You're right, for the most part. However, in 2016 and again in 2019 my small team and I were absolutely firm in the decision to wait until the mad summit rushes had ended and for most of the climbers to be off the mountain. I literally had the summit to myself in 2016, for 30 minutes....passed a handful of climbers on the way down. In 2019 (in Tibet) we were literally the last team on the mountain, virtually every climber and expedition outfitter was gone. We were all willing to miss our shot at the summit. No chance in hell I'm standing in the conga line. Thank you for watching, it truly means a lot that you took the time out of your day!
The summit of Everest is a selfie IG destination these days.
We tought our kids,and now the grandkids,clean up BEFORE we set up camp AND after.
Excellent discussion, well done Thom. Fascinated by both Dan's and Diana's solutions, are you thinking of running an update on this?
Jack, great that you've asked about an update...yes, I'm looking into an update, as well as a condensed version of this one as I lead up to it. Thank you for watching! (and stay tuned!)
@@EverestMystery Looking forward to it Thom, thank you for doing this, such an important issue, not just re Everest but in the wider context of impact on the environment in so many important places.
Rich people they think some one comes in like a 5 star hotel and cleans up after them.
Have a base camp only season for one year. Only those signing up for this to clean up the whole area qualify for permits in the future.
I'm down for that...
Folks I'd love to hear your thoughts on the garbage and human waste problem on Everest....please comment....
I work for a non-profit organisation which cleans my city streets from garbage. This awareness for a clean and healthy environment start with teaching our children at home, by the parents and at school. Ask the chineese where their good houskeeping comes from..😊
That is really cool that you do that work. Yes, I guess it starts from a young age... Thank you for watching!
Jeez they could hand the choppers fly it out
That would be part of a solution, for sure. Thanks for watching...
The vintage equipment would sell for a good price, id volunteer for a salvage mission if i can keep what i want.
Fantastic discussion! It's a beautiful thing to put great minds together to solve problems. Not just an isolated problem of garbage in one place, but a common problem in many areas of the world. Why CAN'T we use waste as en energy source!? There are an abundance of great minds on this planet. We can do this! Meanwhile, pack it in, pack it out! (I get infuriated at the lack of respect for the wilderness where I live...but there is hope.)
Thank you for watching and especially for your hope-filled take. You are spot on about the idea of changing the discussion, using waste as energy. Time is running short.
The authorities that issue climbing permits need to introduce a heavy monitory deposit before issuing a permit .refundable on leaving a pristine camp site .if rubbish is left the amount of the deposited should be enough to cover removing this garbage and human waste .
I totally agree....I will continue to follow this story and hope that we can stem some element of change by keeping it in the forefront of everyone's minds.... Thank you for watching !
Very interesting video. In terms of maintenance, the organizers should absolutely be held responsible. They should have a designated camping area, and if it’s not clean when they leave, they are denied future permits until it’s clean (by paying locals to clean it, or whatever it takes). If their clients are caught dumping in the cravasses, the company is permanently banned. They could learn a lot about garbage and waste management from the military. Culture change is difficult, but it can happen. The people who go there to climb have a lot of money. They really have no excuse for selfishly disrespecting the environment.
Kelly, thank you. You're spot on in your observations and suggestions. I appreciate that you watched and that you took the time to comment. Cheers and thank you!
@@EverestMystery I love your videos, and I have become fascinated by the Sherpa culture and the mysteries of the mountain, such as the Mallory/Irvine enigma. I will never climb a mountain, having been injured in the Bosnian War. But visiting Nepal and Tibet is very high on my bucket list. I would love to see the Himalayas and meet the people there. I really hope I can save the money and the energy to make that happen before my expiration date. If I can make it there, I would gladly volunteer to help with the cleanup logistics in any way I could. Some people just really don’t understand how fortunate they are. I wish they didn’t take their great fortune and the planet’s resources for granted.
You think everest is a mess? What about our oceans? Aka sewers!!;
You got it, time to stop the madness....instead of colonizing Mars how about we figure out how to save the oceans....
@@EverestMystery or do both🤷🏼♂️.
What could be like a depression cure ? is now an ants nest of human waste .
Cruel twist of fate on that one....maybe one day the human race will place little value on going to the highest place on the planet. Thanks for watching!
They should penalized for not bringing back their stuff or close the mountain for them bit at the same time ppl live from the tourist
Leave only footprints. Take only memories.
Great work btw doing all those interviews if you ever need a hand give me a shout .
Great information! 👍 I do have a question... where can I get the merch.... that hat is 🔥
Kevin, stoked you like the hat! I made a half dozen or so before my 2019 Everest expedition, gave all but the green one away. I think it's a great idea to have a merch opportunity....as I also have some absolute bueno t-shirts designed. Stay tuned and thanks for the nudge!
@@EverestMystery I love the hat. Give me a heads up if you get them back. Your logo is cool and different 😎
I always take out more than I bring in boy scouts taught me that.
Lets just say that this is only the tip of the iceburg, when it comes to human destruction.
Agreed. As I commented on another viewers remarks, we're living in Anthropocene era, where the Earth's geologic time period is human-influenced. Overwhelming global evidence shows that atmospheric, geologic, hydrologic, biospheric and other earth system processes are being significantly altered by humans. Something has to give. Thanks for watching and thank you for the comment...
Why are there no sign posts saying::DO NOT LITTER OR YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED!!!!!!
I would like to see that...in neon, at Camp 4. Thing is, people know it's wrong. Some do it anyway.
There's documentaries filled with climbers , Going threw old camps , scavenging food packs& o2 bottles & parts!!! They've been climbing that mountain since the 50s,, trash is everywhere!!!!!
For sure....the penalty for leaving garbage or waste should be stricter....and the motivations for not doing it greater.
Seeing this and seeing a show about 6 months ago seeing garbage on the floor of the Marianas Trench it's disappointing. Honestly though what can be done it takes one jerk not putting that wrapper in their pocket to dispose of later to start the pile.
Good call....thank you for watching, glad you stopped by!
Make them pack out 5 lbs more than they take in or spend 6 months in the local prison. Changes the entire mindset of the climbers.
Truth....
They have enacted rules that the expeditions have to pack out 8 kg. of garbage per person…which is about what an average person generates over a month. It’s a start.
That picture of all the tents reveals that it has become slum territory. Everything that is brought there stays there. Too many egos seeking “ recognition”. So who is to blame? Everybody there that shouldn’t be there and the governments that have jurisdiction over the territory. And it won’t get any better.
Any teams committed to the eating during the years everest is closed should get first place in the queue for expeditions when the mountain is reopened.
Once the mountain is open strict restrictions on numbers per year should be in place.
Add the cost of keeping Mt everest clean to the cost each person pays the guides to climb it!!!
The Nepalese government take 11.000 us dollars for a climbing permit...you really want them to pay more ?
💙
:) thank you Judy
Don't they have to pay a fee that makes the climbers pay to have their trash removed? Those prayer flags look like the ones they fly at Used car lots.
Yes, there is a fee. It has proven to be not completely effective, and some of the expedition organizers are finding ways to skirt their responsibilities.
You would think. Now a place of pilgrimage. That many people journey there would be modern villages with trains
The closest road that automobiles can drive on is hundreds of miles away. The world revolves on commerce moving on the backs of porters and yaks. Thank you for watching!
They aren’t going to close it nor should they . That country is poor they desperately need the money coming into their country. They should use some of that money to help clean also people should be forced to take down all the their garbage and everything they brought with them including tanks and tents.
Totally agree....hopefully you felt some level of hope watching the video. Thank you for watching!
What if you filled a large kevlar ball 6ft-10ft diam. with South Col garbage and rolled it down the side?
Dig it, great idea....honestly, that would probably work. It would make for amazing footage too...get the drones out....
Close it down clean it up let the mountain rest and heal after all the pollution and waste people have left 😢
The trash should be hauled out by each expedition. You pack out what you pack in. Common sense and courtesy which eludes many of the entitled climbers.
I just got back from camping. Didn't see one mountain😭
It is just a shame, the attitude has to be changed for all climbing sites these climbers that get the attention they seek don't show how much they have polluted the sites . K2 supposedly is also a dumpsite, people have to be policed for the garbage they leave behind. I think Joe Sarnak comment is perhaps a solution.
Thank you for watching, I appreciate your thoughts....I hope to do a follow up sometime soon to carry the story further along if possible. Cheers, -Thom
Human existence is the problem, our footprint is enormous and it's everywhere.
True...you know, the way I look at it, the planet will be just fine when we're gone....
@@EverestMystery It will flourish without us.
Sir Edmoond Hillary did what all climbers should do.. Give back always...
Sir Edmund is the towering example of an individual who gave back tenfold everything he ever gained. I have an interview with him in my podcast. I will post the interview here soon. Thank you.
Why don't they charge a tax to fund a clean up expedition everyday, who gets paid by the weight of shit they collect?
Essentially that is happening, however, many are finding ways to wiggle out of it or pay people off to shirk their responsibilities. Thank you for watching! Are you in Ukraine?
I have heard from multiple climbers that locals are paid a premium to remove waste from the camps. 🤷🏻♂️
I have been on several deployments with the US Antarctic Program. There are many spots in Antarctica where the remains of the expeditions of the early 1900s are still there, preserved by the cold/dry environment. In the Dry Valleys, for instance, there are remains of Edward Wilson's excursions in which you can find, not only remains of their campsite, but their footprints. In present day, we treat these as archaeological sites. There are places where the human impact is not erasable.
We who travel to the ice, especially ecologically sensitive areas, have to undergo multiple training sessions about what cannot leave behind - and that includes everything from food waste, to human waste. Penalty for failure to comply includes stiff fines and jail time (for US team members). Sorry to see this effort to preserve remote yet popular regions doesn't extend to mountain tourism.
Thank you so much for taking time to comment. Your work sounds fascinating....and the example of remains from early expeditions being treated like archaeological sites is impressive (and important). Lack of government regulations and too many people who feel that they can get away with it is a big part of the problem.
Thank you for watching! Great having you here
The whole thing is a joke. I've seen documentaries and people have arcade machines and pool tables at base camp.
Yet again the rich people of this world have ruined something pure.
Things have surely changed, that's for sure. During my first expedition in 1996 it was pure silence. We didn't even have a satellite phone. Now, there is mobile service, wifi, the works. Thank you for watching.
I was thinking about organising a trip to Basecamp and having a set recycling unit installed with permanent staff. I can get the funding just need the Nepalese Government to acknowledge me!! So frustrating
Mac, reach out to Yangji Doma Sherpa of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)...she is in this video and may be able to shed some light on this for you. Best of luck! I wish you all the successes. Please keep me updated.
@@EverestMystery thanks. I will keep you updated
I wonder how the prince of Bahrain and his 17 strong entourage treated it in Covid lock down?
I wasn't aware of that. If you have any intel, please do share. Thanks for watching!
The people experiencing the trash are the ones making it. The mountain doesn't care.
Good call. Apologies for the delay in responding to your comment. Thank you for watching!
They could also make up huge bundles of what's up there already if they could get it down to an altitude that heavy lift helicopters to get at it they could pick up the bundles and bring them out all they have to do is haul it down the base camp , and for a security they could charge every one of the big companies to go up there and at a different rate than individual climbers of security and they can use that money to hire Sherpa teams to go up there and drag it out to the base camp
Yes, absolutely, this idea has been tossed around....thank you!
This is Outrageous. This mountain should be closed Down to mountain climbers. The only reason this is being allowed to happen is because of the outrageous fees these people pay to desecrate it.
True. However these problems don’t exist on the Chinese side. They strictly enforce the rules and limit the number of people allowed to climb. Thank you for watching
Unfortunately we are doing this to the whole planet and slowly destroy or kill everything humans need to survive and for the planet to survive. Horrible creatures we are and it can't continue
Up until the horrible creatures part I agree. I feel there is Good in all, as there is Evil in all. We're in the Anthropocene epoch, mankind is drastically changing our planet and the clock is ticking. Thank you for watching!
These multi millionaire a big corporations have left their waste behind for decades. We from New Zealand were the first to climb the summit and the first to bring this problem to light. It is disgusting and people should be left alone permanently. It is a burial mountain anyway. It should be treated with huge respect with the amount of human lives still lying on the mountain. Now it thaws.