Eco Everest Expedition
Eco Everest Expedition is an annual expedition drill, started in 2008, with the sole aim of clearing and removing accumulated debris on Mount Everest.
Background
Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, has attracted thousands of mountaineers in the last two centuries and was first successfully climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Hundreds of expeditions left garbage and mountaineering equipment by the ascent lines. Some items at high altitude remained there for decades and gradually piled up. Garbage became a threat to the environment and future expeditions.[1]
Cleaning the debris
As of 2012, more than 13,500 kilograms (29,800 lb) of debris and waste materials and more than 450 kilograms of human waste (and the remains of five dead climbers) left on the mountain had been brought down by Eco Everest.[2]
2008 expedition
Eco Everest Expedition began removing debris in 2008.[1] Partnering with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and United Nations Environment Programme and support by Nepal, the expedition created awareness about global warming and importance of sustainable mountaineering.[3] Dawa Stevan Sherpa, son of well known mountaineer Ang Thsering Sherpa led the first expedition and reached the summit on May 26, 2008.[3]
References
- 1 2 Walsh, Bryan (29 May 2013). "60 Years After Man First Climbed Everest, the Mountain Is a Mess". TIME Science & Space. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ "Eco Everest 2012". Healthy Parks Healthy people. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- 1 2 Sherpa, Ang Thsering. "Eco Everest Expedition 2008". Asian Trekking Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 7 July 2013.