Last update: May 02, 2023, 12:39 PM HST
Rock climbing is a key source of income for the impoverished country, where around 500,000 people are employed in tourism, including rock climbing, and the number of permits has steadily increased. (Image: Reuters)
The 69-year-old climber was on an acclimatization rotation at around 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) when he died on Monday.
An American mountaineer has died on Mount Everest, the organizer of his expedition announced on Tuesday, the first foreign death on the world’s highest mountain this season.
The 69-year-old climber was on an acclimatization rotation at around 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) when he died on Monday.
“He did not feel well and died in Camp 2. Efforts are underway to bring his body back,” Pasang Tshering Sherpa of Beyul Adventure told AFP.
Sherpa said bad weather was hampering recovery efforts.
Beyul Adventure is a local partner of US-based expedition organizer International Mountain Guides.
“It is with profound sadness that IMG announces the passing of one of our Everest 2023 team members at Camp 2,” IMG Chief Eric Simonson said in a statement posted on the company’s website. ‘business.
“We can confirm that this occurrence was not the result of a climbing accident or road condition that would have a potential impact or safety issue for other teams on the mountain.”
The spring climbing season on Everest got off to a tragic start last month with the deaths of three Nepalese climbers.
The trio were crossing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall on a supply mission when a block of glacial ice fell and dragged them into a deep crevasse.
Nepal has issued 466 permits to foreign climbers, and as most will need a guide, more than 900 people will attempt to summit this season, which runs until early June.
This could lead to heavy traffic and bottlenecks en route to the summit, especially if there is a shorter ascent window due to adverse weather conditions.
On average, about five mountaineers die each year on the highest peak in the world.
But in 2019, 11 people died, four of which are blamed on overcrowding that year.
Nepal is home to eight of the 10 highest peaks in the world and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are generally calm.
Last month, Northern Irish mountaineer Noel Hanna, 56, died on Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain, which has an even higher death rate than Everest.
The 56-year-old adventurer was returning from a successful summit of the 8,091-metre (26,545ft) peak when he died at Camp 4.
A day later, record-holding Indian mountaineer Baljeet Kaur, 28, and his compatriot Arjun Vajpai, 30, were both rescued after a search lasting several hours.
Later, a third Indian climber, Anurag Maloo, 34, was rescued alive after falling 300 meters (985ft) into a crevasse.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
