Nepal will not shift base camp due to climate change, after opposition from Sherpas and mountaineers.
Scientists say the Khumbu glacier on which Everest base camp sits is melting and becoming unstable because of global warmingLast June, Nepal's tourism ministry announced plans to move Everest base camp lower down the famous mountain because global warming and human activity were making it unsafe.
As the backbone of the mountaineering industry, the Sherpa's voice is crucial. Opposition to the move is widespread - more than 95% of attendees rejected the idea at a recent consultation with the mountaineering industry, say tourism ministry officials and the Nepal Mountaineering Association. The Khumbu glacier, like many others in the Himalayas, is rapidly melting in the wake of global warming, scientists have found.
Mountaineers and officials say streams have now begun to flow right from the middle of the base camp and crevasses are widening dangerously and very quickly.Scientists say the lakes and ponds on the mountain are growing and joining up due to climate change The icefall, on the South Col route to the summit of Everest, rapidly falls down the mountain opening large crevasses with little warning and dislodging huge towers of ice, known as seracs. It is also regularly hit by avalanches and rockfalls from the mountain slopes overlooking it on both sides.
Mr Mingma said even if the base camp was moved to a lower location, most expedition teams would end up using the previous location as an advanced camp to begin their early morning climb through the Khumbu Icefall.
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