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Nepal Officials Say There's Too Much Human Sh*t Left On Mount Everest

by Sean Levinson

According to officials, Mount Everest is covered in so much human waste that climbers could soon be at risk for disease by scaling it.

The four camps, located between the peak's base camp at 17,380 feet and the top of the mountain, don't have toilets, according to the Huffington Post, leaving few options for climbers who must answer nature's call.

Ang Tshering, the head of Nepal's mountaineering association, said,

Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there.

This week marked the beginning of Nepal's mountaineering season, which will see hundred of people spend months trying to climb the 29,035-foot mountain.

Massive amounts of urine and feces are often left behind, and very little has been done to prevent such practices.

Tshering is therefore urging the Nepalese government to force climbers, possibly with some sort of law, to stop leaving their waste wherever they please.

Dawa Steven Sherpa has been spearheading the cleaning initiative for about seven years.

He says that climbers tend to leave their poop in bags as they edge closer to the mountain top.

He told the Associated Press,

It is a health hazard and the issue needs to be addressed.

The Nepalese government determined last year that each climber is responsible for at least 18 pounds of trash.

Climbers must bring that amount with them when they return to base camp.

The $4,000 deposit they have to leave at the beginning of their journey won't be refunded should they not fulfill this requirement.

Officials stationed at the mountain's base camp will be more scrupulous in reporting the amount of waste left throughout this climbing season, which lasts until the end of May.

Other than that, however, the Nepalese government has yet to propose any truly effective solutions for the waste.

Citations: Mt Everest Is Covered In Human Poop And Thats a Problem (The Huffington Post)