MOUNT EVEREST-THE ECHOES TO BE HEARD
Mount Everest which is also called Sagarmatha (Nepali) and Zhumulangma (Chinese) is the highest peak of the world measuring a height of 8848 metres above the sea level. The mountain belongs to the Himalayan range and is located at the border of Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal and Tibet, China. Although there were multiple attempts to climb the mountain since early 1920’s, it was in the year 1953 that the duo pair of a Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary first accomplished the mission. Since then almost 3000 climbers have attempted with more than 700 climbers having successfully scaled the summit. However, with the number of successful summit, the morbidity and mortality has also increased proportionately. Although the charm of the Mount Everest does lie in all, the various aspects that concern have to be dealt with lest some menace do occur.
Morbidities and Mortalities
A retrospective study done by Dr Paul G Firth and published in the British Medical Journal examined the pattern of death among the climbers on Mount Everest from the year 1921 to 2006. The noteworthy finding of the study which supplemented previous studies was that the death rate on Mount Everest is greater than that of lower mountains attempted by similar populations of climbers; the death rate among climbers is higher than that among Sherpa; majority of the death occurring at height above 8000m (the death zone) during descent of the summit. The cause of death in Mount Everest was classified as involving trauma (objective hazards or falls), as non-traumatic (high altitude illness, hypothermia, or sudden death) or as a disappearance. The blood oxygen saturation level even at the base camp falls to 85% (98% to 99% at sea level). The level of oxygen in the blood progressively declines at higher altitude. Although the use of bottled oxygen have been a boon, however other factors as exhaustion, extreme temperatures and the physical hazard are a posing factors for the increasing calamities.
More than two hundred deaths have been reported to have occurred at level above base camp. The death of the population of Sherpas and other climbers appears a little different in etiology. The deaths of Sherpas have in majority occurred at lower sections of the climbing routes which are prone to avalanches. This has been linked to external factors as longer stay attributed to time taken for transport of equipment for the climbers at the extreme situations. The deaths of climbers have been seen more during the descent from the summit related to the neurological and respiratory conditions. This may be as failure of acclimatization to the environment at such high altitude. Besides, increasing crimes at the high altitude and morbidity related to the adverse environment as altitude sickness and extreme cold also poses a major problem.
Environmental and Ecological impact
Following the successful summit of the Mount Everest, the number of climbers has increased drastically in the Himalayan Region. There are also additional Everest tourists and those exploring the region for various purposes. This has been a source of influx of revenue to the region and also source of improvement in the daily living of those associated to the mountaineering. However, with this the ecological system of the region has also become more fragile with evidence of so called adverse environmental effects of tourism. Garbage on the mountain that includes climbing equipment, foods, plastics, tins, aluminum cans, glass, clothes, papers, tents, and dead bodies have caused the region to be labeled the Highest Junkyard of the World. It has been estimated that there are about 50 tonnes of waste at the Everest region. Realizing the reciprocal impact of the tourism to the environment of the region an initiative by the government had been taken with inclusion of the Everest and surrounding area to the designation of Sagarmatha National Park and the area was made a Natural World Heritage Site. Although, the effort has been started for the conservation, the area still has to bear the brunt of the impact of deforestation, pollution and increasing population of the region. Various Non government organizations as the Sagarmatha Environment Expedition (SEE) were established with the initiative of cleaning the Everest. SEE led by Brent Bishop has hauled more than 18,000 pounds of trash from the Everest. In the wake of environmental activism, Ministry of Tourism cut back the number of expeditions allowed yearly and also raised the climbing fee in 1992. Another initiative that was implemented was imposing a must deposit of four thousand dollars from each expedition with returning it on assumption that they bring down as much trash as they carried. Other measures taken include prohibition of deforestation on the mountain and the sale of bottled drinks in the surrounding park. A portion of the climbing fee has been utilized for the collection of trash and cleaning of the region. Although efforts have been made for the conservation of the region to its natural conditions, the area still bears the brunt. Recently a group of Sherpas climbers have taken an initiative to clean the Everest which is noteworthy and to be appreciated.
Allure and hype of records
Climbing Mount Everest is obviously an allure to the trained climber. Thousands of climbing enthusiasts have attempted to reach the summit since the first successful attempt. It should however be noted that various factors do affect in the success of the expedition. Personal experiences, weather factors are the most important issues that have major prognostication values on the success of the trip. Improper training and preparation, non acclimatization of the conditions are the major factors that contribute to the major morbidity and mortality of climbing these high mountains. Even for the most experienced climbers, calamities do occur at instances owing to various environmental and other issues. Recently, individuals are so perplexed to combat the expedition without previous any experience or for sake of records or prestige risking the lives of many on the way with disasters. Recently, hype surrounding the climbing of the Mount Everest has posed a source of controversy from everywhere. A noteworthy event is the recent climbing by a 13 year old teenager for the sake of record holding and propagandas attempting to surpass the record hold by a Nepalese Temba Sheri Sherpa. A sparking controversy arose in the world community and among child rights activist regarding this ascent. They have challenged with criticism that climbing of Mount Everest is itself a challenge to the most experienced as evident by death of climber who have had multiple successful attempt, the teenager Jordan Romero is physically and mentally immature to scale. As there was no any casualty, this issue has been dissolved however it would have sparked to wider extent had the event turned around. Another noteworthy remark regarding this event lies on the fact that the summit of Mount Everest lies on Nepal and Tibet. On this circumstance Romero had breached the law of Nepal as Nepal government has posed a lower age limit of 16 years to climb the Mount Everest. Recently, China has too barred an age limit for the climbers. Moreover many various individuals with different walks of life having no prior experiences and training are too attempting and poised to even endanger lives for the mere achievement of the feat. Cumulative efforts and initiative should be taken from both the Nepalese government and Chinese Government to curtail such activities and for preservation of the heritage site.
Mount Everest and the Himalayan region are a natural heritage and the preservation of this rests on not only on the Government but also should be on individual basis. A sense of responsibility and sentiments from the climbing fraternity, locals and everyone associated directly and indirectly would go a long way in improvement of the environment in and around Mount Everest.
Prasun's Words 