Title: Nepal’s New Mandatory Tracking Chips for Mount Everest Climbers: A Game-Changer in Mountain Rescues
In preparation for the 2024 Mount Everest climbing season, Nepal has enforced a new regulation that compels all climbers to rent and utilize tracking chips during their ascent. This requirement, according to Rakesh Gurung, the director of Nepal’s Department of Tourism, is an extension of a practice already adopted by reputed companies but is now mandatory for all climbers.
The primary objective behind this rule is to reduce the time and resources required for search and rescue operations in case of accidents. Climbers will be required to pay approximately $10-15 each for these chips, which will be sewn into their jackets. Upon the climber’s return, the chip will be retrieved by the government and prepared for the next climber.
The tracking chips employ Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to transmit data to satellites, enabling real-time monitoring of the climbers’ locations. However, Gurung declined to disclose further details about the manufacturing country or company behind these chips.
Nepal is the preferred choice for most aspirants attempting to conquer Mount Everest, with around 60% of climbers opting for this route. The climbing permit alone costs $11,000. Adding in the expenses for gear, food, supplemental oxygen, Sherpa guides, and more, the total cost amounts to over $35,000. Nepal benefits significantly from mountaineering tourism since it hosts eight of the world’s ten highest peaks.
The Mount Everest climb can take anywhere between two to three months to complete, with favorable weather conditions for summiting generally occurring in mid-May. Last year, Nepal issued a record 478 climbing permits, but unfortunately, tragedy struck when twelve climbers lost their lives and five remain officially missing.
Rescues at the Mount Everest summit pose unique challenges under even ideal circumstances due to its extreme altitude. In 2023, Gelje Sherpa sacrificed his chance to reach the summit to execute a daring rescue of a Malaysian climber in the “death zone.” As Bigyan Koirala, an official from the Department of Tourism, explained to Reuters, “Rescues at that altitude are almost impossible.”
The introduction of these mandatory tracking chips presents a significant leap forward in ensuring climber safety and streamlining rescue operations.
