Nepalese guiding companies eye Everest opportunities
KATHMANDU -- As Nepal's 2018 climbing season gets under way, Nepalese companies are stepping up efforts to compete with Western operators helping foreign climbers to scale Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.
Beijing also imposes strict limits on the number of climbers attempting Everest from Chinese soil, allowing just 22 in 2018. "Every year, more and more Chinese people want to climb Everest, but there's not enough room for them," said Bao Yifei, a Chinese mountain guide leading a team of four Chinese climbers in Nepal this season.
Everest Base Camp turns into a tent city during the popular spring climbing season that runs from April to May. (Photo by Pradeep Bashyal)
"Sherpas have been the pillars of the Everest industry. We do all the hard work. So I wanted to run my own guiding company instead of working as an employee of a Westerner," said Temba Tsheri Sherpa, who left Dreamers Destination in 2015 to run his own company.
"It's going to be hard for us operators, but it will be a best solution to overcrowding and a lack of safety on Everest," Joshi said.
