Everest continues to attract climbers 70 years after first summit
Al JazeeraDec 22, 2022
The Facts
Authorities in Nepal have reportedly shelved plans to move the Everest base camp after widespread resistance from the Sherpa community and other mountaineering operators.
The potential move was first announced in June last year. It came following concerns that the Khumbu glacier, on which the base camp sits, was rapidly thinning due to human activity and increased greenhouse emissions.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Seventy years on from the first successful climb, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa have opened the door to thousands of others following in their footsteps — transforming the surrounding area from small farming villages to bustling economic engines that bring in millions of dollars to the local population.
Establishment-critical narrative
In issuing a record number of permits, Nepal is prioritizing short-term income over the long-term state of the mountain. Worse still, they're turning a blind eye to the safety of the climbers who are at greater risk of dying under these conditions. This situation is not sustainable.