Nepal has granted a record 463 permits to potential climbers for the current Mount Everest climbing season (March to May), despite concerns over overcrowding in the “death zone.” The “death zone” is a section of the climb above 26,246 feet, where oxygen levels are so low that climbers may experience impaired judgement and cells begin to die. Nearly all of the 11 people who died on Everest in 2019 had been in the “death zone.” Everest climbing permits cost over $10,000, contributing millions to Nepal’s economy, though the country is one of the world’s poorest. While the director of Nepal’s tourism board argued preparations were adequate to protect climbers, some experts worry that greater numbers of climbers could result in oxygen shortages and exhaustion, particularly if weather patterns are unfavourable.