In a major policy shift, Nepal has announced new regulations to control access to Mount Everest by requiring climbers to have prior high-altitude experience. To qualify for an Everest permit, climbers must now show proof of successfully summiting at least one of Nepal’s 7,000-meter peaks. This measure is designed to enhance safety and reduce the number of inexperienced climbers attempting the dangerous ascent to the world’s highest peak.
The decision follows growing concern over overcrowding and rising fatalities on Everest. In 2023 alone, Nepal issued 478 climbing permits, resulting in 12 deaths and five missing persons. Many of these tragedies occurred in the “Death Zone” — areas above 8,000 meters where…
