Nepal considers banning disabled, elderly from Everest

Nepalese officials will introduce regulations banning inexperienced climbers from attempting Mount Everest.

Nepal is considering banning severely disabled climbers and those deemed too old from Everest and other mountains in an attempt to improve safety, the head of its tourism department said yesterday. The permits cost thousands of dollars and are a key source of revenue for Nepal.

Every year about 600 climbers go to Nepal with the intention of taking on Everest, and in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of novices, relying heavily on guides to scale the 29,000ft (8840m) summit.

In previous years, hundreds of “tourist climbers” attempted to scale Everest, much to the concern of experienced mountaineers.

Mohan Krishna Sapkota, the acting secretary of the tourism ministry also spoke about how it was important to maintain the image of Mount Everest as being a glorious summit.

“We want to make the mountains safer for everyone, so we have to insist on some rules”. “If they are not physically and mentally fit, it will be like a legal suicide”.

A spokesman said under new proposals, no-one younger than 18 or older than 75 would be allowed to climb.

Mr Karki also said the government was considering only issuing permits to climbers who have already scaled another mountain above 6,500m (21,300ft). “This causes problems”, she said.

The mountain continues to have an nearly mystical attraction for many who have little or no experience of serious climbing.

Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to Everest, to the frustration of tour operators.

New Zealander Mark Inglis, who lost both his legs to frostbite, became the first double amputee to reach the top of Everest in 2006. Since the natural disaster, which killed almost 8,900 people, no one has yet climbed the mountain.