On March 3, the chief of Nepal's Mountaineering Association said that human waste left on Mount Everest has become a serious situation and is causing pollution and threatening to spread disease. More than 700 climbers and guides who spend around two months on the slopes each climbing season have large amounts of feces and urine, and the issue has yet to be addressed. "Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave their waste there," Tshering said. At a base camp, there are toilet tents that are used to dispose waste properly. Nepal's government has not come up with a plan to help eliminate this problem, but starting this season they are taking serious caution to monitor waste on the slopes.
-Shawntel Tulpan
-Shawntel Tulpan