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Nepal bans blind people and double amputees from climbing Everest
The Guardian ^ | Sat 30 Dec ‘17 | Michael Safi

Posted on 12/30/2017 4:21:30 PM PST by nickcarraway

Tourist board criticised for new regulations, which also prohibit solo ascents with the aim of reducing the number of accidents

Solo climbers, blind people and double amputees have been banned from climbing Everest under new rules the Nepalese tourism ministry believes will reduce the number of deaths on the mountain.

The changes have provoked criticism from the US ambassador to Nepal and a former Gurkha soldier planning to scale the peak after losing both legs in Afghanistan.

The new rules have been under discussion for a month and were implemented this week, Nepalese officials told the Himalayan Times.

British cancer patient reaches Everest summit Read more Individual climbers will need to be accompanied by a mountain guide, and high-altitude workers who accompany expeditions to the summit are eligible to receive summit certificates under the revised regulations.

A suggested upper age limit of 76 for climbers – which Nepalese alpine associations had lobbied for after the death of an 85-year-old climber in May – has not been implemented, but the government maintained the ban on climbers under 16.

Everest once attracted only elite climbers, but as the relative cost of scaling the peak has fallen the mountain has drawn record numbers of aspiring mountaineers, including many from China and India.

Experienced climbers have raised concern that the mountain is becoming dangerously overcrowded and that new companies with lower safety standards have rushed to fill demand in the market.

The Nepalese government tightens the eligibility criteria for permits to scale the 8,848m (29,029ft) peak from the Nepal side before each spring climbing season, but enforcement is patchy and rules are frequently overlooked.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Local News; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: china; davidsharp; doubleamputee; greenboots; india; luolili; markinglis; mteverest; nepal; newzealand; phurbatashi; prosthetics; russellbrice; siredmundhillary
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1 posted on 12/30/2017 4:21:30 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Then how are the going to enjoy the view from up there?


2 posted on 12/30/2017 4:22:43 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: nickcarraway

Can ya blame em? Kinda silly trying to prove how brave you are. Might work here but not there.


3 posted on 12/30/2017 4:23:14 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: nickcarraway

Sounds good to me.


4 posted on 12/30/2017 4:26:43 PM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

I bet it only took ONE TIME of 15 sherpas walking a dude up to the top, only to find out he was blind to make this rule.


5 posted on 12/30/2017 4:26:59 PM PST by Celerity
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To: nickcarraway
We understand you are suicidal but we would be grateful if you would not leave your body on our mountain. It scares the other tourists.

-The Government of Nepal

6 posted on 12/30/2017 4:27:30 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Not a Romantic, not a hero worshiper and stop trying to tug my heartstrings. It tickles! (pink bow))
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To: nickcarraway

Kyle Maynard is a speaker, author, and mixed martial arts athlete, known for becoming the first quadruple amputee to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro without the aid of prosthetics.

7 posted on 12/30/2017 4:27:53 PM PST by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: nickcarraway

Well that’s a shame! Can they still do Macchu Pichu?


8 posted on 12/30/2017 4:29:06 PM PST by mylife ( The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: nickcarraway

Well, thats off my bucket list for 2018. I suck wind at about 20 feet above sea level.


9 posted on 12/30/2017 4:30:19 PM PST by Bonemaker
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To: nickcarraway

Everest is so dangerous for anyone, regardless of ability or group size. I was part of a climbing team on an expedition to Cho Oyu which is a 8,000m peak just west of Everest. A South Korea team was just ahead of us and they had Sherpas out fixing ropes higher on the mountain. A huge wind came up and blew several Sherpas off the mountain. I never heard that any of them were found.


10 posted on 12/30/2017 4:30:43 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: mylife

This is devastating. And I’m still not over Macho Grande.


11 posted on 12/30/2017 4:31:55 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (Benedict McCain is the worst traitor ever to wear the uniform of the US military.)
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To: Bonemaker

Welcome to my world LOL


12 posted on 12/30/2017 4:35:18 PM PST by mylife ( The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Do it while you can LOL


13 posted on 12/30/2017 4:36:50 PM PST by mylife ( The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: ClearCase_guy

One of the funniest Monty Python skits involved a mountaineering expedition of British hairdressers attempting to climb Everest.

“Well we had to use the oxygen tanks to keep the hair dryers running”


14 posted on 12/30/2017 4:37:25 PM PST by Col Frank Slade
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To: nickcarraway

It would seem to me that they may be able to make the climb, but at a slow rate. That would create blockages on the mountains, slowing everyone’s ascent and descent.That would prove dangerous when there is sudden weather changes. I am not a mountain climber, but I did trek there. Miserable experience as I got altitude sickness.


15 posted on 12/30/2017 4:40:14 PM PST by kaila
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To: nickcarraway

I have a hard time with the Rock Wall at the Mall.


16 posted on 12/30/2017 4:40:20 PM PST by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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To: nickcarraway

The Gurkha would manage it.


17 posted on 12/30/2017 4:41:45 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: nickcarraway

It’s their country, they can make their own rules.


18 posted on 12/30/2017 4:55:10 PM PST by caver
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To: nickcarraway

Used to cost over US $250,000 for a small party. On the way up tourists get to see the frozen bodies of unsuccessful climbers as well as all the human waste in 5 gal pails accumulated since climbing began.


19 posted on 12/30/2017 4:57:10 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: nickcarraway

No mention of banning 60+ yr old, couch-potato cigarette smokers?

Whew! Still good to go.


20 posted on 12/30/2017 4:58:50 PM PST by TigersEye (0bama. The Legacy is a lie. The lie is the Legacy.)
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