I need to buy a waste bag from now on.
▲ A mountain climber looks down on the base camp below Camp 4. AFP file photo Climbers who climb Mount Everest must bring so-called ‘dirt bags’ to carry their dirt.
According to the BBC on the 8th (local time), Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Pasang Lama municipality, which governs most of the Everest region, announced this measure, saying, “Our mountain is starting to stink.”
“We have received complaints about human feces being seen on the rocks and some climbers falling ill,” emphasized Chairman Mingma. “This is unacceptable and tarnishes our image.”
Accordingly, climbers climbing Mount Everest and nearby Mount Lhotse must purchase so-called ‘dirt bags’ at base camp. You must also have your envelope checked when you return to camp.
Everest climbers stay on the mountain for two weeks on average, and in low altitude areas, they usually dig holes in the ground to use as toilets. However, it is said that as the altitude increases, snow accumulates or the ground hardens, solving the physiological phenomenon without separate digging.
According to data from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a local environmental NGO (non-governmental organization), about 11 to 12 tons of sewage is dumped near Everest every year. As there are no waste disposal facilities near Everest, they are dumped in Gorakshep, a small village located 5,163 meters above sea level. CNN reported in 2018 that “sewage that has accumulated for decades has reached saturation point in Gorakshep.”
It is currently estimated that there are approximately 3 tonnes of human waste between Mount Everest base camp No. 1 and base camp No. 4, just before the summit. Half of these are said to be at ‘South Col’ (8000m), the highest camp on Everest.
The Pasang Lamu municipality is procuring about 8,000 dirt bags for the climbing season which starts in March. We intend to provide two bags which can be used approximately 5 to 6 times per person.
These are specially designed bags that contain chemicals and powders that harden the dirt and make it almost odorless. Chairman Mingma said, “Climbers have also used this method on Mount Denali (the highest mountain in North America) and Antarctica,” and added, “Now, everything will change.”
Correspondent Kim Yu-min
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