KATHMANDU - For years, it has been known as the world's highest mountain. But climbers say Mount Everest is also the world's highest garbage dump and final resting place.
A four-nation Asian team is to set to leave on Friday for Mount Everest to clear the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) peak of the mounds oxygen cylinders, plastic, food cans, ropes and tents left behind by other climbers. If possible, the 29-member team will also bring down some of the bodies of the climbers who have perished on its slopes.
Ken Noguchi, who heads the team, said the climbers from Georgia, Japan, Korea and Nepal would focus on clearing the route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa 49 years ago.
"We will try to clear up to 1.5 tonnes of garbage between Camp Two and South Col," Noguchi, 28, told Reuters yesterday.
Camp Two at about 6,400 metres (20,997 feet) is also called the advanced base camp where most climbers gather before beginning their ascent. South Col at 7,900 metres (25,918 feet) is the point from there the final trail to the Everest summit begins.
The team plans to pick the garbage starting mid-April and transport it to Korea and Japan where it will be publicly displayed to build awareness about the trash on Everest.
Those returning from Mount Everest say the mountain that lures climbers from around the world each year is littered with more than 100 tonnes of garbage.
Noguchi, who climbed the peak in 1999, said he also saw three bodies at South Col during his climb. "If possible we will take the bodies down this time."
A total of 1,114 people from 60 countries have climbed the mountain so far from the Nepali and Tibetan side. At least 167 people have died on its slopes.
Noguchi has already led two cleaning expeditions to Everest from the Tibetan side and collected a total of about three tonnes of trash.
The rubbish was sorted out by the nationality of its origin. The Japanese trash was cargoed to Japan and displayed in several cities to generate awareness about the mountain's pollution.
"They showed big shock about the garbage," Noguchi said. "Nobody knew there was garbage on Everest.":
