KATHMANDU, MARCH 27
The new signboard erected at the Everest Base Camp (EBC) by the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality about a week ago has sparked a range of strong reactions.
The local government had put up the signboard featuring Tenzin Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hilary, the first summiters of Mt Sagarmatha on May 28, 1953, highlighting the final point of the trek. Earlier, trekkers recognised EBC for its iconic boulder with the 'Everest Base Camp' written on it with red paint, where countless trekkers and mountaineers have left their mark over the years. The stone is still there but has tilted over the years and is now mostly blocked from the view by the new board.
Just days after the new signboard was erected, many people were quick to share their opinions on the social media.
According to Ganesh Sharma, a tour and trekking operator, the iconic stone, with its history steeped in the tales of adventurers and explorers, served as a testament to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region.
"Its replacement not only disregards this heritage but also threatens to erase the memories and experiences of those who have made the arduous journey to EBC and could be perceived as disregarding the cultural and historical significance it held for those who had visited," he said.
On March 24, Kenton Cool, an English climber and mountain guide who has summited Everest 17 times, shared a picture of the new signboard through his official X account asking people for their thoughts on it. The post has since garnered more than 19,000 views.
"I was there on Friday. Although the sign seems a little commercial it's there and not going anywhere. The boulder is still iconic and the views are still beautiful," one person commented on Cool's post.
"Glad I got to be there before the sign. It feels like it adds a level of commercialism that detracts from the natural wonder that surrounds base camp," another one said.
"Going up in May and this will spoil it for me. Definitely not taking a picture next to that," another shared.
Another such post was shared by Everest Today on X stating that the iconic signature stone is 1000 per cent better than the sign board. The post has received almost 60,000 views, with many people referring to the new sign as 'ugly', although a few expressed support to the initiative taken by the local government.
One person commented, "Nothing wrong with the board as the old stone is starting to face the ground. People are there to see Mt Everest, not the stone."
Serku Sherpa, author and researcher, praised the local government's initiative in setting up the signboard as it would 'help clarify the real location of the base camp for confused tourists'. "It will also help discourage further entry of trekkers from the point into dangerous areas of the Khumbu glacier where crevasses form at any time due to effects of climate change."
Talking to THT, renowned mountaineer Mingma David Sherpa said the 'iconic' boulder was not there until five years ago and will not be there for long either due to continuous shifts of the glacier.
"The boulder as a landmark was recognised only after someone painted the words Everest Base Camp on it. Installing signboards in trekking routes is a common practice across the globe. But people could still have divergent opinions ... I guess it's all about perspectives," Sherpa said.
Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, a mountaineer, also gave a thumbs up to the new sign, but opined that it could have been placed at a more favourable location. "It would have been better if the sign was erected on the left side away from the glacier at a slight elevation which provides stable ground and an even better view of the surrounding mountains."
Mingma Chiri Sherpa, chairman of the municipality, explained that the signboard was installed around a week ago to also stop trekkers from going further on the risky path. "Also, many expedition members feel disturbed or at risk of catching sickness from trekkers infiltrating campsites during high season," he said.
According to officials, the boulder was never the official landmark, and expect the signboard to help manage high foot traffic.
"There is still work to make the signboard further informative by adding the history of Everest climbing and pictures of the surrounding mountains. The board was also placed in front to not expose it to strong winds and not to just block the old boulder intentionally," Mingma said adding that further measures are being taken to not disturb or erase the natural beauty.
