Nepal Official Says Mt. Everest Has a Serious, Um, ‘Human Waste’ Problem

Lots of people like trekking up Mount Everest, but they are leaving something behind that is of great concern to Nepal officials. What is that something, you ask? Their own, um, excrement.

Ash Tshering, the head of Nepal’s mountaineering association, told reporters, “Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there.” There are four main camps these climbers go to, and in all four areas the feces has been “piling up” and causing problems.

The human waste being left there is causing pollution problems and, according to one sherpa, “it is a health hazard.”

Luckily, there is hope:

Starting this season, officials stationed at the base camp will strictly monitor garbage on the mountain, said Puspa Raj Katuwal, the head of the government’s Mountaineering Department.

And by “garbage,” we presume they’re also referring to the poop.

[h/t Salon]
[image via Shutterstock]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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