Mount Everest Has a Poop Problem
Mount Everest has a poop problem – Nepal has a stinky situation on its hands. Human waste left by climbers on Mount Everest has become a major problem, and is even threatening the spread of disease.
Everest’s climbing season only lasts a measly two months, but nearly 700 climbers brave the world’s tallest peak and not all of them dispose of their trash, urine and feces properly. None of Mount Everest’s four base camps, which are located at 17,380 feet, have proper facilities.
The camps have tents, equipment, supplies and even cooks, but no toilets. The waste is collected in a drum in a toilet tent, where it is then carried to a lower altitude and disposed. But not all climbers use the camps’ facilities to do their business. They dig holes in the snow and use it as a toilet and leave the waste there.
According to the sherpas, the human waste has been accumulating over the years and is a potential health hazard. Last year the Nepalese government imposed new rules, which requires climbers to return to the base camp with 17.6 pounds of waste. The government does not currently have plans to deal with the human waste issue, but will striclty enforce the new rule.
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