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| British Climber Dies on Everest as Traffic Jam’s Toll Rises to 10 | British Climber Dies on Everest as Traffic Jam’s Toll Rises to 10 |
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| KATHMANDU, Nepal — The death toll from a traffic jam of climbers on Mount Everest in the Himalayas, the world’s highest summit, has risen to 10, officials said on Saturday, as a record number of people tried to use a brief window of good weather to make it to the top. | KATHMANDU, Nepal — The death toll from a traffic jam of climbers on Mount Everest in the Himalayas, the world’s highest summit, has risen to 10, officials said on Saturday, as a record number of people tried to use a brief window of good weather to make it to the top. |
| The latest casualty on the mountain was identified as Robin Haynes Fisher, 44, of Britain, who died Saturday morning at about 28,215 feet, the authorities said. | The latest casualty on the mountain was identified as Robin Haynes Fisher, 44, of Britain, who died Saturday morning at about 28,215 feet, the authorities said. |
| Sherpa guides on the Nepali side of the mountain have complained that the traffic jam at the last stretch of the climb, called “the death zone,” has become the most serious problem for climbers in this spring season. | Sherpa guides on the Nepali side of the mountain have complained that the traffic jam at the last stretch of the climb, called “the death zone,” has become the most serious problem for climbers in this spring season. |
| “I have climbed Everest so many times, but this spring’s traffic jam was the worst,” said Tshering Jangbu Sherpa, a guide who summited Everest on May 22. “Many climbers who moved to the summit without extra supplement oxygen bottles suffered the most. They suffered because of the traffic jam, not because of wind and coldness.” | “I have climbed Everest so many times, but this spring’s traffic jam was the worst,” said Tshering Jangbu Sherpa, a guide who summited Everest on May 22. “Many climbers who moved to the summit without extra supplement oxygen bottles suffered the most. They suffered because of the traffic jam, not because of wind and coldness.” |
| He said that after his team became stuck in the line, he had to borrow a supplemental oxygen bottle because one member of his expedition was running out. “Otherwise, he could also die there in the high camp,” he said. | He said that after his team became stuck in the line, he had to borrow a supplemental oxygen bottle because one member of his expedition was running out. “Otherwise, he could also die there in the high camp,” he said. |
| The death toll for the 2019 climbing season on the 29,000-foot mountain currently stands at 17 over all, according to government tallies, the worst in decades, excluding major natural disasters such as avalanches and earthquakes. | |
| Expedition organizers say the number of Everest hopefuls from the Nepal side has increased in recent years after China set a limit on climbers from the Tibetan side. Only two of the deaths were reported on the Tibetan side. | Expedition organizers say the number of Everest hopefuls from the Nepal side has increased in recent years after China set a limit on climbers from the Tibetan side. Only two of the deaths were reported on the Tibetan side. |
| Nepal’s tourism ministry issued permits to a record 381 climbers this season, each at a cost of about $11,000. In 2018, 346 permits were granted. | Nepal’s tourism ministry issued permits to a record 381 climbers this season, each at a cost of about $11,000. In 2018, 346 permits were granted. |
| Tourism officials, however, rejected the notion that the summit had become deadlier because of overcrowding related to the large number of climbers receiving permits. In recent years, concerns have also grown about how loosely regulated the expeditions are, with some organizers using old equipment, particularly oxygen cylinders, to maximize profit. | Tourism officials, however, rejected the notion that the summit had become deadlier because of overcrowding related to the large number of climbers receiving permits. In recent years, concerns have also grown about how loosely regulated the expeditions are, with some organizers using old equipment, particularly oxygen cylinders, to maximize profit. |
| Danduraj Ghimire, director general of the tourism department, attributed the casualties to two factors: a delay because of the cyclone effect on Everest in fixing the rope that the climbers use to ascend and descend, and the fact that many of the climbers want to ascend Everest only on the best climbing day. | Danduraj Ghimire, director general of the tourism department, attributed the casualties to two factors: a delay because of the cyclone effect on Everest in fixing the rope that the climbers use to ascend and descend, and the fact that many of the climbers want to ascend Everest only on the best climbing day. |
| “It’s not because of traffic jam,” Mr. Ghimire said. “The number of climbers was a bit high this year, and most climbers wanted to climb within a short weather window.” | “It’s not because of traffic jam,” Mr. Ghimire said. “The number of climbers was a bit high this year, and most climbers wanted to climb within a short weather window.” |
| Among the climbers who have died are four Indians and one each from the United States, Ireland and Britain. Most of the deaths occurred at higher camps on Wednesday and Thursday, when Everest witnessed the worst traffic jam. | Among the climbers who have died are four Indians and one each from the United States, Ireland and Britain. Most of the deaths occurred at higher camps on Wednesday and Thursday, when Everest witnessed the worst traffic jam. |
| The American has been identified as Donald Cash of Sandy, Utah, who was completing his goal of climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents. Official records showed Mr. Cash fainted twice on Wednesday at about 28,779 feet. His family believes he had a heart attack. | The American has been identified as Donald Cash of Sandy, Utah, who was completing his goal of climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents. Official records showed Mr. Cash fainted twice on Wednesday at about 28,779 feet. His family believes he had a heart attack. |
| As the number of climbers increased this year, expedition companies and government officials divided them into groups so that they could climb Everest within the short monsoon window left for climbers. | As the number of climbers increased this year, expedition companies and government officials divided them into groups so that they could climb Everest within the short monsoon window left for climbers. |
| Based on a forecast analysis by liaison officials at the Everest Base Camp, 122 climbers were scheduled to summit Everest on May 21, 297 on May 22 and 172 on May 23 — the three days when the weather would be most conducive. | |
| Tourism officials, however, said some of the climbers who arrived before these dates had also been stuck, and they added to the number of people scheduled for these dates. | Tourism officials, however, said some of the climbers who arrived before these dates had also been stuck, and they added to the number of people scheduled for these dates. |
| Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said that in addition to the weather fluctuation, the government was to be blamed for delaying by a week permission for a helicopter flight to fix the rope at the highest peak. | |
| “These incidents could be averted if the rope was fixed on time,” he said. | “These incidents could be averted if the rope was fixed on time,” he said. |