Some of the most significant limitations that were announced to curtail luxury at the Everest base camp have been loosened by local officials in the Khumbu region. As the spring climbing season draws near, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has updated a few sections of the recently published Base Camp Management Procedure 2024 in an effort to achieve a balance between expedition facilitation and conservation initiatives.A 17-member committee chaired by the chair of the rural municipality would supervise the new provisions’ implementation under the revised regulations.
Notably, contingent on monitoring committee approval, helicopters will now be allowed to deliver expedition logistics to the base camp. A committee-appointed individual or organization may be given the sole authority to enforce all or any of the regulations in order to expedite the process. It has been stressed, meanwhile, that regular conditions should still be followed when transferring climbing equipment, such as using yaks and local porters.In addition, the revised rules that THT was able to get detail the area assigned to each person at the base camp: 60 square feet for dining and 80 square feet for sleeping. Furthermore, there are strong restrictions against businesses operating on base camp property, including bakeries, cafes, spas, and bars.
It is mandatory for climbers who stay above the base camp to bring a poop bag or a biodegradable bag to dispose of their waste.The updated paper states that although trekkers and other non-designated visitors are not permitted to stay overnight, certain groups—such as friends, family, medical staff, base camp administrators, and sponsors of expedition members—are exempt.The most recent clause makes it clear that any expedition team, consisting of no more than 15 people, is free to hire as many high-altitude and base camp employees as they require.
Additionally, according to the regulations, linked restrooms are not allowed inside of tents. All expeditions, however, will be limited to the following: a maximum of four toilet tents, two shower tents, and two extra urine tents per group of up to 15 participants. Three helipads will also be present at the base camp; these will only be used for rescue and evacuation missions above the base camp.”An instant check-in-out system will be adopted at the base camp to track the climbers’ status above the base camp,” according to the new rules. Regulations state that expedition teams must register a list of all the necessary logistics above the base camp. Moreover, after their expeditions are over, they are not allowed to store these items at the high camps.
It stated that all teams climbing Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse must return with a minimum of eight kilograms of trash per member, while Ama Dablam requires three kilograms. “Box tents will not be allowed above the base camp, and the use of new ropes are made mandatory while fixing the climbing route,” the statement continued.”Expedition agencies will be responsible for retrieving the bodies of their respective members, and they will be given the ‘Garbage Clearance Letter’ only after the bodies are recovered and the waste is properly disposed of,” the statement stated.