Limitations on access to a well-known mountain set by an extreme travel location
Rewritten Article:
Roam Australia for a Year, Compliments of Petsitting and Driving Gig
Hailey Learmonth, an adventurous backpacker, footloose in Australia for an entire year, managed to pull it off without spending a dime. How did she accomplish this incredible feat? By petsitting and driving company vans to various locations. Not only that, but she saved herself a pretty penny – a whopping $15,000 to be exact.
*ATTENTION ADVENTURERS: SEEKING THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PEAK? PROceed with caution*
Ah, the lure of mountaineering! But, prepare yourself for a setback if you’re eyeing Mount Everest - the world's highest mountain. Mount Everest, nestled within the Himalayas, is contemplating stringent measures, restricting access to the summit.
Nepal has proposed a law that would make climbers prove their worth before scaling the Everest. You'll need to show evidence of having scaled at least one of the Himalayan mountains previously.
Nepal's new law seeks to improve safety and alleviate overcrowding on the summit. Climbers aspiring to conquer Mount Everest will have to furnish proof of having climbed at least one 7,000-meter mountain in Nepal. (AP/Alpenglow Expeditions/File)
In 2023, 12 climbers lost their lives, and five went missing, as per Nepal's issuance of 478 hiking permits, according to Reuters. An area above 8,612 meters on the mountain is ominously referred to as the "death zone."
Since modern records began in 1921, over 330 climbers have tragically perished on Mount Everest. The travel company Mount Everest Official reports that approximately 200 bodies remain frozen on the slopes.
*RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ANCIENT TEMPLE TO ADDRESS EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE*
Expedition operators believe Nepal should expand the permit to climbers who have conquered any 7,000-meter peak, not just those from the Himalayan Mountain range. After all, numerous mountains remain unpopular yet can serve as valuable stepping stones.
Austria-based expedition organizer, Lukas Furtenbach of Furtenbach Adventures, told Reuters the Himalayan experience requirement "doesn't make sense."
"I would also add mountains that are close to 7,000 meters to that list and that are widely used as preparation, like Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali, and others," Furtenbach said.
Other experts like Garrett Madison of Madison Mountaineering and Tashi Lhakpa Sherpa of the 14 Peaks Expedition in Nepal shared similar sentiments. They argue that a 6,500-meter peak anywhere in the world would be a better choice.
However, Tashi Lhakpa Sherpa underlines that only a few of the 7,000-meter mountains attract climbers. Around 700 to 1,000 climbers attempt the summit each year, with success rates ranging between 60% and 70%, according to Climbing Kilimanjaro.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.
As it turns out, scaling Mount Everest isn't a walk in the park, even if you’ve got the $15,000 and a bundle of determined spirit. Be mindful of Nepal's regulations, and make sure you're well-prepared before you embark on this perilous journey.
And for those seeking an escapade roaming the Aussie lands, dare to dream – petsitting and driving gigs might be your ticket to an extended, cost-effective adventure down under!
- Weather conditions in the mountains can significantly affect mountaineering expeditions, as exemplified by the deadly incidents on Mount Everest.
- Lukas Furtenbach of Furtenbach Adventures questions the need for climbers to have scaled a Himalayan mountain before attempting Mount Everest, suggesting inclusion of other high mountains such as Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali, and others for a broader understanding of mountaineering.
- Adventure travelers looking for a unique lifestyle can consider the world of sports, such as extreme sports like mountaineering, which offer opportunities to face challenges and experience stunning vistas.
- Travel companies like Mount Everest Official report the presence of over 200 frozen bodies on the slopes of Mount Everest, underscoring the danger and the need for proper preparation before attempting to conquer this legendary peak.
- Embarking on an extended adventure travel journey in Australia, as Hailey Learmonth did, requires flexibility in lifestyle and openness to unconventional means such as petsitting and driving gigs to finance the trip.
