Everest’s Mountain of Poop Worries Nepal

Nepalese officials expressed concern Tuesday about the health and environmental threat posed by the human waste left by those scaling Mount Everest. Hundreds of climbers and guides leave large and unhealthy amounts of feces and urine on the iconic mountain when they attempt to scale it, says Ang Tshering, a sherpa who has served in various official capacities regarding Nepalese mountaineering. He told reporters that the human waste has been “piling up” for years, and the government needs to get involved. “It is a health hazard and the issue needs to be addressed,” said Dawa Steven Sherpa, a sherpa who has been leading Mount Everest cleanup trips since 2008.