Report: Nepalese Companies Held Responsible for Mount Everest Deaths, According to Top Climber

• In 2023, Mount Everest has seen one of the deadliest years on record.
• Kenton Cool, a British climber, has climbed the mountain 17 times, more than anyone born outside of Nepal.
• He attributes the blame to Nepalese climbing companies prioritizing profit over safety protocols.

In 2023, Mount Everest has experienced a remarkably high number of fatalities, making it one of the deadliest years on record.

According to reports, thirteen people have died on the mountain during the spring season, with four more listed as missing. British climber Kenton Cool, who holds the record for the most ascents of Everest by anyone born outside of Nepal, has attributed these deaths to the growing number of Nepalese climbing companies prioritizing profit over safety protocols. He believes that these companies are taking inexperienced climbers who are ill-prepared for such a demanding climb.

Cool expressed his concern about the changing landscape of climbers on Everest. He stated, “When I first arrived in 2004, the majority of climbers had extensive climbing experience. Now, we see large groups of people attempting the climb without any previous mountain climbing background. This lack of experience and support is contributing to the multiple deaths we are witnessing.” He also criticized the lack of accountability among these companies, citing the frequent appearance and disappearance of firms.

Cool has called for an investigation to improve safety standards in the industry. However, Yuba Raj Khatiwada, the director of Nepal’s tourism department, disagrees with Cool’s assessment. Khatiwada believes that the adverse weather conditions, which have been affected by climate change, are the primary cause of the fatalities.

Despite this difference in opinion, Cool highlighted a troubling case of an operator not providing enough oxygen cylinders for all their clients to reach the summit. He emphasized that such a scenario would be unlikely to occur with a Western outfit, emphasizing their stricter regulations and accountability. Others have also blamed the overcrowding on the mountain, particularly in the “death zone” above 8,000 meters, where climbers face dangerously thin air and rely on oxygen masks for survival.

Mount Everest continues to pose challenges and attract climbers, but the increasing number of fatalities raises concerns about the industry’s safety standards and the impact of overcrowding on the mountain.