Nepal has issued a record number of permits for the ascent of Mount Everest this spring, officials said on Friday, raising fears of heavy traffic on the world's highest mountain. Because nothing says 'adventure of a lifetime' like standing in line at 29,000 feet.
As of May 8, Nepal has issued 492 permits for Everest alone, bringing in more than $7.1 million in revenue, according to Department of Tourism (DoT) data. The previous record had been set in 2023, when 478 permits to summit Everest were issued. Last year Nepalese authorities issued 468 permits. Apparently, the message 'please stop coming here' has not been received.
Overall, 1,134 mountaineering permits were issued for 30 peaks for the coming season, bringing in record revenue of over $8.3 million. That's a lot of money for a country that also had to deal with a Gen Z uprising and an Israel-Iran war this year.
"Despite the Gen Z protests and the Israel-Iran war, a record number of climbers have taken permits this season. This is truly historic," DoT spokesperson Himal Gautam told dpa. Yes, truly historic - like surviving a protest and a war just to get stuck in a queue on a mountain.
In September, the Himalayan country was rocked by serious unrest after a ban on social media platforms drove tens of thousands of mostly young protesters onto the streets, denouncing widespread corruption and nepotism. At least 76 people were killed in the so-called Gen Z protests. So while the youth were busy fighting for democracy, the tourism department was busy selling tickets to a death trap.
According to reports in Nepali media, a reason for the record number of permits issued is that China has closed the ascent to Everest from the Tibetan side of the mountain. Official figures in Nepal show that the largest number of applications this year are from China, followed by the US and India. Nothing says 'we're still coming' like a closed border.
The increase in climbers is expected to boost Nepal’s economy, but some fear traffic jams on Everest due to delayed summit preparations. Because nothing boosts an economy like people paying to stand in line and possibly die.
In the past, congestion at the summit has left climbers stranded for hours in the so-called death zone with low oxygen concentration, contributing to deaths that some climbers and experts say were avoidable. Avoidable, sure, but not as profitable.
Compared to previous years, this spring the first summit has been delayed nearly two weeks due to unstable ice conditions, bad weather, logistical hurdles and a dispute over the use of drones. Gautam, however, said that the season was going as scheduled. Which is a bit like saying the Titanic's maiden voyage went as scheduled.
The Everest climbing season typically sees summit attempts concentrated within a few days or weeks in May when weather conditions are most stable. After May, warming temperatures accelerate melting of the Khumbu Glacier, forcing expeditions to wrap up. So if you want to die, hurry up.