Gorak Shep Research Paper
During the short, two-month long climbing season, when conditions on the mountain are ripe, hundreds of climbers set out from base camp to hopefully reach the peak. Though not all of them obtain their goal, they all leave behind a massive amount of poop and supplies for others to worry about.
How did this happen? Well, climbers usually dig holes in the snow to use as makeshift toilets. After their business is done, they simply cover it up and go about their day. But since the poop isn’t going anywhere, these makeshift toilets that were once mere holes in the ground have been piling up for years. The worst-hit areas are right outside the camps climbers commonly use to acclimate themselves to the altitude.
As the waste problems get worse and worse, local water sources are slowly morphing into poisonous sludge. The pit at Gorak Shep is basically a giant vat of disease risk that locals have to deal with constantly. To make matters worse, the waste doesn’t disintegrate because of the region’s chilly climate. Instead, it freezes and stays around for way longer than it would in a warmer area. …show more content…
Human waste dumped in Gorak Shep has ballooned to 26,000 pounds (12,000kg/12 tons) annually, causing environmental degradation and posing severe risks to clean water sources.
In an effort to clean up this renowned landmark, the Nepali government enacted regulations in 1991 to mandate the removal of waste generated at Everest Base Camp. The Sagarmāthā Pollution Control Committee was created to manage the environmental protection of the Mount Everest National Park, which includes the oversight of waste removal and disposal. However, due to the remote nature of the area, there has been no solution yet for the treatment or safe disposal of human
How did this happen? Well, climbers usually dig holes in the snow to use as makeshift toilets. After their business is done, they simply cover it up and go about their day. But since the poop isn’t going anywhere, these makeshift toilets that were once mere holes in the ground have been piling up for years. The worst-hit areas are right outside the camps climbers commonly use to acclimate themselves to the altitude.
As the waste problems get worse and worse, local water sources are slowly morphing into poisonous sludge. The pit at Gorak Shep is basically a giant vat of disease risk that locals have to deal with constantly. To make matters worse, the waste doesn’t disintegrate because of the region’s chilly climate. Instead, it freezes and stays around for way longer than it would in a warmer area. …show more content…
Human waste dumped in Gorak Shep has ballooned to 26,000 pounds (12,000kg/12 tons) annually, causing environmental degradation and posing severe risks to clean water sources.
In an effort to clean up this renowned landmark, the Nepali government enacted regulations in 1991 to mandate the removal of waste generated at Everest Base Camp. The Sagarmāthā Pollution Control Committee was created to manage the environmental protection of the Mount Everest National Park, which includes the oversight of waste removal and disposal. However, due to the remote nature of the area, there has been no solution yet for the treatment or safe disposal of human