Everest Base Camp...

[Playfair]

I know when I read John Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air, he said that there has been a lot of work done cleaning up the mountain. There are expeditions who apparently climb Everest just to clean up old bottles etc off the mountain.

It seems like a beautiful place, but also a place that has nothing on home in terms of cleanliness due to the poor sanitary conditions. I have no idea, I haven't been anywhere near there, but that is what I gathered from the book, and reading what others have said on the matter.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by 4X4

God that pisses me off. Nothing I hate more than a SOB that goes camping (or mountain climbing) and doesn't hike their trash out. FFS, you're still lighter than when you got there. Why is it so hard?

I think the extra challenge with the Everest base camp is the fact that you are at 17,600 feet and all physical activity becomes much harder and dangerous on the human body.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I think the extra challenge with the Everest base camp is the fact that you are at 17,600 feet and all physical activity becomes much harder and dangerous on the human body.

Well they managed to get full tanks there, so I don't see any legitimate excuse for why they can't get empty tanks back out. That should be part of the entire operation, cleaning up your crap.

[habernac]

too many rich aholes with no business being there is a big part of the problem. They basically have the sherpas drag them up the hill. I think it should be a requirement that the groups that guide there remove all the crap they haul up, leave no trace, that sort of thing.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by habernac

too many rich aholes with no business being there is a big part of the problem. They basically have the sherpas drag them up the hill. I think it should be a requirement that the groups that guide there remove all the crap they haul up, leave no trace, that sort of thing.

I'm no mountain climber, so I can only bitch about this in relation to camping, but it drives me crazy when I go bushwhacking and I see an abandoned site with garbage and cans and whatnot. What really, really drives me nuts is when I see a bag of garbage tied to a tree. Like a parks guy is supposed to come and grab your garbage? Blargh!

The only evidence of your presence should be a pit and some footprints (and some nice tire tracks). That's all. Mountain climbers too. Same with hikers. Every time I walk a trail there are power bar wrappers all over the place. It makes me want to hide in the bushes and jump out and punch the next guy that casually tosses a wrapper.

Edit* End rant. Sorry to start a derail. I'll shut up now.

[habernac]

preach it, brother. No excuse for not hauling it out or just plain old putting a wrapper in your pocket.

[drewboy12]

They are paying 30k-70k to climb the mountain, thats insane. That would suck not to make it and have to turn around. How much do people pay just to go to base camp? It would be amazing.

As for the trash, its pretty sad. I never really associated trash and mt everest in the same sentence... Opened my eyes.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

As for the trash, its pretty sad. I never really associated trash and mt everest in the same sentence... Opened my eyes.

Check this out: http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ts.html?cat=48

People throw trash in the crevasses...classy

[valo403]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

They are paying 30k-70k to climb the mountain, thats insane. That would suck not to make it and have to turn around. How much do people pay just to go to base camp? It would be amazing.

As for the trash, its pretty sad. I never really associated trash and mt everest in the same sentence... Opened my eyes.

Unfortunately it's one of the first things I think of, at least when I hear talk of these tourist climbs.