Safety concerns have become more acute in the face of climate change, which is making mountains in the region riskier to climb.
Scientists have connected the growing pattern of increasing avalanches and ice falls on Everest with global warming.
The speed of glacier melt in the Himalayas has been fiercely debated. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fourth assessment report, erroneously reported that Himalayan glaciers could disappear as early as 2035.
However, new research published by the European Geosciences Union(EGU) journal last year, showed that the 99% of glaciers on the Mount Everest region will disappear by the end of the century.
Older members of the Sherpa community have been advocating climate action for some time.
“Climbing Everest has been harder because of unpredictability of weather and melting of ice. For instance, most climbers returning in May see many bare rocks with less ice now, which many say wasn’t the case more than a decade ago,” said Purna Sherpa.
“Shapes of ice masses are changing faster and every year we have to search alternative options while preparing the way for the climbers.”
Read the full article: Sherpas warn of growing risks of climbing Everest | News | Eco-Business | Asia Pacific
