KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 19
Of the thousands of alipinists who have received permits to scale Nepali peaks over the years, hundreds have died on treacherous mountains. While most bodies are recovered and handed over to their respective families, mountains have also become the final resting place of many. However, with melting glaciers, stakeholders are concerned about bodies resurfacing along the climbing routes, which could put a damper on the activity.
Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said there had been numerous mentions of old bodies resurfacing en route to the summit of the mountains in recent years.
While the recovery operation may also depend on the wishes of deceased climbers' families, the site of such operation, and the high cost of the search operations, among other natural and technical factors, can also be attributed to many bodies being left on mountains.
"Depending on the altitude, environment, and location, a team of at least a dozen skilled and well-equipped people is needed just to conduct a recovery operation. Assistance from the state in forming a well-established rescue team is necessary to facilitate such operations in mountains," Kami Rita Sherpa, who has scaled Everest 26 times and holds Guinness world record for doing so, told The Himalayan Times.
Family members of the late South Korean mountaineer Park Young Seok, who went missing in Annapurna on 18 October 2011, are planning to conduct another search mission for the lost mountaineering legend. Park - the first person in the world to complete a 'True Explorers Grand Slam', had summited all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres, and is well-respected among the mountaineering community - had gone missing while attempting a new route through the south side of Annapurna.
Despite various search attempts over the years after Park went out of contact, his body has not been found.
According to Ang Dorjee Sherpa, handling agent of Park's search operations in Nepal and a friend of the late mountaineer, Park's family is planning to conduct another search near the icefall area of Annapurna this year, but the cost of conducting search operation could be prohibitive.
"The government charges $1,800 per person to issue a permit and $2,500 to take a liaison officer up the mountain as per the entry guidelines. The family will have to bear the cost of at least three members of the search party, the equipment, and air transport. Add to that royalties charged by the government. The government should not charge royalties for such cases," he opined.
He said the government was firm on permit charges, citing existing laws and regulations.
NMA President Nima said the government should at least waive royalties charged for permits in the case of search and recovery operations.
"Such a decision will not only provide some relief to family members, but also send a positive message to the international mountaineering community," he said, adding that the move could even help reduce the number of bodies left on mountains due to high costs and assist in keeping the mountains clean.
As many as 37,778 climbers were issued permits to summit peaks above 8,000 metres in Nepal from 1950 to 2022, according to data maintained by The Himalayan Database. Of them, 589 climbers - 555 males and 34 females - have died on these mountains, with around 300 deaths recorded on Mt Everest alone. Avalanche, fall, and acute mountain sickness are major causes of fatalities on the mountains above 8,000 metres, with 197, 164, and 55 such instances recorded, respectively, so far.
Meanwhile, Yuvaraj Khatiwada, director of the mountaineering branch at the Department of Tourism, said the mountaineering regulation required a permit to be issued for entry of each person above the base camp of any mountain.
"Things could have been different if the person had gone missing recently, but we have to charge royalty fees for entry permits as per existing laws," he said.
Khatiwada said the government was also making efforts to recover bodies but stressed that it was also the responsibility of the tour operator or agency to recover bodies from mountains.
"The government is focused on addressing the issue of recovery of bodies through the formulation of effective guidelines and regulations. We are also trying to revise the insurance premium for mountaineering activities. The agencies will also have to support and abide by existing guidelines, as well as prioritise the recovery of their clients' bodies in the case of death on the mountain," he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 20, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
