Renown climber warns Everest facing climate damage

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA
Associated Press Writer

source: Assotiated Press

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- A Sherpa from Nepal who holds the world's record for scaling Mount Everest said Monday the planet's highest peak was littered with trash and warned that its glaciers were melting because of global warming.

Appa, who like most Sherpas goes by only one name, scaled the peak last week not to draw attention to his own amazing feat - he has now climbed Everest a record 19 times - but to the impact that global warming is having on the majestic site.

Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, creating lakes whose walls could burst and flood villages below. Melting ice and snow also make the routes for mountaineers less stable and more difficult to follow.

"We have only one Everest, we need to clean it, protect it," said Appa, who flew back to Katmandu on Monday after reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) summit last Thursday for the 19th time. "The warming temperature is increasing the volume of glacial lakes."

One aim of Appa's expedition was to help clean up the mountain. The climbers brought about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of garbage from the higher slopes to base camp. The trash will eventually be carried down by porters and yaks.

Mountaineers in the past habitually left behind their climbing gear, tents, empty oxygen bottles and food wraps - leading to Everest being dubbed the "world's highest garbage dump."

Now, however, climbers are required to bring down what they take up the slopes. The Nepalese government withholds the security deposit of climbers who violate the rule.

Appa, 48, placed a banner at the summitt last week that read, "Stop Climate Change - Let the Himalayas live," to urge the world to take action against global warming.

Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, creating lakes whose walls could burst and flood villages below. Melting ice and snow also make the routes for mountaineers less stable and more difficult to follow.

"We have only one Everest, we need to clean it, protect it," said Appa, who flew back to Katmandu on Monday after reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) summit last Thursday for the 19th time. "The warming temperature is increasing the volume of glacial lakes."

One aim of Appa's expedition was to help clean up the mountain. The climbers brought about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of garbage from the higher slopes to base camp. The trash will eventually be carried down by porters and yaks.

Mountaineers in the past habitually left behind their climbing gear, tents, empty oxygen bottles and food wraps - leading to Everest being dubbed the "world's highest garbage dump."

Now, however, climbers are required to bring down what they take up the slopes. The Nepalese government withholds the security deposit of climbers who violate the rule.

Appa, 48, placed a banner at the summitt last week that read, "Stop Climate Change - Let the Himalayas live," to urge the world to take action against global warming.