The entire climbing season at Mount Everest is now in doubt after reports that some Nepalese Sherpa guides have begun leaving the base camp. An avalanche late last week claimed the lives of 16 guides.
The avalanche hit Friday morning, as a group of Sherpas were setting up rope along a climbing path to prepare for climbing season, which starts in May. Initially, 12 were reported dead, but the death toll continued to rise. It now stands at 16.
The Nepal government has been criticized for its reaction to the avalanche, notes The Associated Press. Each of the victims’ families only received 40,000 rupees ($415) and some have said they should get more. There’s also been a push for more rights for the guides.
As a result, the AP reports that dozens of Sherpas have already left the base camp, taking their tents with them. It’s not clear how many guides are taking part in the walkout.
“It was crowd behavior -- some hooligans were creating problems, but things are getting back to normal,” Sushil Ghimire, secretary of Nepal's Tourism Ministry, told the AP.
Meanwhile, eKantipur.com reports that the Nepal Mountaineering Assosiation is calling reports that expeditions have been adandoned false.
“Yes, Nepali mountaineers are in deep sorrow after the huge human loss and they are trying to cope with the situation. They are trying to be mentally prepared for the expedition and it will take some time to return to normal situation,” the group’s president said in a statement.
The government said on Tuesday that it does plan on meeting with the guides and their representatives to meet the mountaineering and guide associations’ requests.