[Eric Hansen]

Nepal sets new rules for Everest climbers after deadly season Permit will depend on climbers having ascended at least one 6,500-metre Nepalese peak https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/nepal-sets-new-rules-for-everest-climbers-after-deadly-season

[NacMacFeegle]

Maybe this will help thin the crowds out a bit, but I can also see it just extending the problem of an overcrowded Everest to other peaks in the region. So many people want to climb Everest that many will just add an extra mountain into their trip. What is needed is a very limited quota for the mountain and permits that would be dependent upon individual climbing background review.

[Malachai Constant]

The real problem is greed the source of most of our current problems. Back in the day the National climbing organizations were the gatekeepers. You could not be invited on an Everest expedition unless you were an accomplished climber now any one who has the do re mi can sign up. What could possibly go wrong?

[Cyclopath]

Everest is the biggest mountain, and that makes it the best mountain. It's the only one worth climbing, the only reason anyone would ever climb anything else is training for Everest I don't understand the mentality.

[SwitchbackFisher]

I have 2 issues with this. 1 the requirement to have a guide. I am sure there are bonafide climbers who are capable of Everest just going with their climbing partners or group, and now they have to Shell out the money for a guide. Or could one of them become a guide? I don't know the requirements, but this will probably cause an increase in price to hire the guides. 2 the requirement of another 6500 foot peak makes what was already a significant financial burden even more of a hardship for would be climbers. Everest is not something that has ever interested me, it always seemed not worth the cost or training required to complete it, but these new rules make me less likely to ever do it.

[Anne Elk]

Even if all those criteria are met, there would still be problems unless Nepal sets strict limits on the # of permits given in the climbing season window; something not mentioned in the article.

[Chief Joseph]

I agree Anne, it makes much more sense to simply restrict the number of permits. However, I would say they are greedy and-or really need the money, which is likely why they chose this 'solution'.

[Randito]

Banning the practice of short lining would have been my 1st pick for a rule change.

[MtnGoat]

[Cyclopath]

Why is everyone saying greed? Are we entitled to go to their country and get things at a price we want?

[thunderhead]

Ya how dare the sherpa people massively improve their standard of living in trade for everest guiding at prices rich people are willing to pay.

[MtnGoat]

[MtnGoat]

[Randito]

One of the folks that died went with a "cut rate" guiding company. They figured that the food would be less gourmet, but not much different. Unfortunately other ways the cheaper price was accomplished was fewer porters and fewer oxygen bottles. They ran out of oxygen waiting their turn on the descent and succumbed to hypoxia as a result. The requirement to have climbed a 6500 meter Nepalese peak seems like a move to increase guiding business. Seems ascending K2 , Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat and Cho Oyo wouldn't qualify as they aren't in Nepal.

[neek]