The chips will cost hikers between USD 10-15 to borrow and return after hopefully accomplishing the challenging climb
In view of numerous accidents taking place in the Himalayas, especially amongst mountaineers attempting to climb Mount Everest, Nepal has announced a new rule requiring all climbers to rent and use tracking chips on their expedition ahead of the 2024 Mount Everest season.
According to press statements, the chips will cost hikers between USD 10-15 to borrow and return after hopefully accomplishing the challenging climb of the 8,849 metre high mountain.
This spring, when summit season begins, all climbers ascending or descending Mount Everest will need to carry an electronic chip with GPS-tracking capability sewn into their jackets. The tracking chip will make search and rescues easier, which can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars, the statement says.
“Reputed companies were already using them but now it’s been mandatory for all climbers. It will cut down search and rescue time in the event of an accident,” says Rakesh Gurung, Director of Nepal’s department of tourism.
The statement adds that tracking chips use the global positioning system (GPS) to share information with satellites. Gurung added that the chips were manufactured in “a European country” but did not specify where or by which company.
It says that the majority of people who try to climb Mount Everest do so via Nepal, paying USD 11,000 apiece just for the climbing permit. Adding in the prices of gear, food, supplemental oxygen, Sherpa guides and more, it costs upwards of USD 35,000 to take on the mountain.
Last year, Nepal gave out a record 478 climbing permits. Twelve climbers were confirmed to have died on the mountain, while another five remain officially missing.
The statement adds that with eight of the highest peaks in the world, Nepal’s Himalayan economy is mostly driven by mountaineering tourism. By employing guides, trekkers who tackle the summits contribute significantly to the revenue of rural villages. It can take as long as two months to complete the Mount Everest climb. The weather is suitable for summiting during a very small window, usually in mid-May.
Rescues at “the roof of the world” are risky under even the best of circumstances. In 2023, 30-year-old Gelje Sherpa passed up his own chance at reaching the summit in order to pull off a daring rescue of a Malaysian climber at the Everest “death zone’’.
The Nepal government banned solo trekking to Mt Everest last spring as part of its aim to make the summit safer. The country also increased the cost of the permit for non-locals by 36 pc to USD 15,000, adds the statement.
