Everest continues to attract climbers 70 years after first summit
Al JazeeraDec 23, 2022
The Facts
Mount Everest's 2023 spring climbing season has reportedly been one of the deadliest since an earthquake triggered an avalanche that killed 18 people in 2015.
According to Nepal's Tourism Department, at least 12 people have died, and five more are still missing as the record Everest season comes to an unofficial end.
The Spin
Narrative A
Overcrowding is the biggest reason for the disastrous, dangerous, and deadliest Mount Everest climbing season in 2023. Weak, novice, and impatient climbers especially put pressure on the climbing route, as high altitudes can cause swelling in the lungs and brain, leading to fatigue, breathlessness, and loss of coordination.
Narrative B
Climate change, which is dramatically altering weather patterns and causing extreme fluctuations in global temperature, is the real culprit behind the unfortunate deaths of climbers on Mount Everest. A warming climate creates icefalls and avalanches and impairs the essential base camp, posing new dangers for climbers.
Narrative C
Linking individual events directly to global warming without evidence is far-fetched. Everest expeditions constitute a significant source of income for Nepal, which is why the country's government must be held accountable for allowing anyone who can pay the exorbitant fee for a permit to climb the summit instead of appropriately handling economic crisis, unemployment and poverty.
