Due to an increasing number of inexperienced climbers crowding Mount Everest’s slope, endangering themselves and fellow climbers, the governments of Tibet and Nepal, as well as private guiding businesses, should distribute permits to only those who meet specific health and experience qualifications.

Mount Everest contains many dangers, making the climb extremely hazardous even for the most experienced climbers. The route contains difficult climbing sections that can result in serious injury or death if not maneuvered through correctly. The Sherpa people are extremely skilled climbers and are acclimatized to the high altitudes of the mountain. However, this does not mean that they are invincible to the mountain's toughest climbing areas. Young …show more content…
Bumper to bumper at 27,000 feet, we were forced to move at exactly the same speed as everyone else, regardless of strength or ability,” (Jenkins). When inexperienced climbers are added into a situation such as this one, their weaknesses can cost the lives of everyone else on the mountain. When the mountain is overcrowded, people who are waiting are forced into “holding patterns”, which increases the chances of injuries caused by exposure to the viciously cold temperatures, and also drains the oxygen supplies (Luke). These human traffic jams would not occur if less people were permitted to climb Everest to begin with. A reporter was told that Song Young-il and a friend, Song Wong-bin, encountered hypothermia and snow blindness due to a four hour wait for over 300 climbers to pass them before they could begin their descent. Song Wong-bin unfortunately passed away due to this wait (Nelson). Not only are there more climbers on Everest than is safe, the climbers are less experienced on average than in the past, and put themselves and all other climbers at risk. Krakauer wrote that “Several times both Beck and Yasuko had appeared to be in danger of …show more content…
Reducing the number of climbers would hurt the economies of Nepal and Tibet. With permits costing 10,000 dollars, the economies of Nepal and Tibet benefit greatly from the mountain (Krakauer). Also, Everest provides work for many Sherpas and other locals. Limiting the mountain's use would damage these economies severely. Another reason that there should be unrestricted access to the mountain is that people know the risks they are taking when they sign up for the climb. They understand that the mountain is dangerous, and the less experienced you are the riskier the climb is. If they still choose to get a permit and climb the mountain, they have agreed to whatever danger they encounter. However, they are not only putting themselves at risk. The lives of everyone on the mountain are potentially compromised for the desires of one inexperienced climber. It is not worth the potential risks of allowing unqualified people onto the slopes of Everest. (Jenkins). Also, it should be the government’s duty to keep people out of danger. If someone attempting to climb the mountain is clearly unqualified, they should not be allowed to climb in order to prevent the incredibly high chance of them hurting themselves or others on the