Every summer, there is a surge of climbers seeking to make use of the precious window of good weather to summit Mount Qomolangma, the highest mountain in the world.

With the number of climbers rising every year, overcrowding on the top of the world has given rise to the incredible phenomenon of "traffic jams"—long queues of climbers from different countries and regions awaiting their turn to reach the top and then descend. The long wait in below freezing temperatures in the rarified atmosphere is turning increasingly perilous with some climbers meeting their death due to altitude sickness, excessive oxygen depletion and exhaustion.

This year, 14 people died in May, with three deaths occurring on a single day, May 23. Three climbers are still missing.

In 2018, the General Administration of Sport of China stipulated that every year, only around 300 professional alpinists and other qualified climbers will be allowed into the core area of the mountain and the sport is permitted only in the spring. Mountaineering is an extreme sport, where danger lurks at every corner. To summit Qomolangma, a climber has to be fit, mentally agile and experienced to cope with extreme weather conditions and ensuing risks like avalanches and crevasses. Though the authorities on both the northern and southern sides of the peak have been trying to regulate the climbs, people always find ways to circumvent restrictions, leading to overcrowding above 8,000 meters during the short weather window.

Consequently, injuries and deaths have become increasingly common, not to mention the degradation of the mountain due to garbage left by the climbers, ranging from used-up oxygen cylinders and food tins to helicopter wreckage.

It's a source of bewilderment to many. Why are these climbers so obsessed with scaling Qomolangma despite the prohibitive expenses and enormous risks? Legendary British climber George Mallory gave his reason for wanting to tame the mountain, "Because it's there." Many empathize with the exploring spirit of Mallory, who himself died during an expedition in 1924.

However, now more people are saying that irresponsible commercial mountaineering in the area should be banned for the sake of safety and environmental protection.

Safety first

He Xuan (Beijing Daily): Nowadays, with more advanced equipment available, scaling Qomolangma is no longer limited to professional climbers. The number of amateurs has surged and this year, climbers had to queue up for their turn to go to the top.

Despite the dangers, some unscrupulous climbing companies are providing services to whomever can afford to pay their high fees to make a handsome profit, without strictly examining the fitness and capability of the climbers. It's laudable that people want to conquer the highest mountain in the world but they must know their own ability. Climbing is a kind of extreme sport, and to scale Qomolangma is one of the most dangerous. It requires high-level training and guidance, as well as fitness. Advanced equipment does help to reduce the risks and extreme weather conditions like snowstorms and avalanches make the march toward the peak extremely dangerous. This is evident from the rising deaths of climbers in recent months.

When one can't say for sure whether even professional climbers will come down safely, it's hard to fathom why ordinary people rush to climb Qomolangma on a whim.

The dream of conquering the highest peak in the world is definitely appealing but before jumping into action, every climber needs to take stock of their real capability. Their dream should not come at the cost of their safety or their life.

Li Songlin (People's Daily): Some external factors have contributed to the overcrowding. Extreme weather shortened the window of time available for summiting and as a result, people rushed to the mountain at the same time.

However, it's undeniable that many of the tragic deaths have human factors. For example, the regulations on the northern and southern sides of the mountain are different and that gives rise to some loopholes. Some climbers try to bring the costs down, and thereby get poor-quality equipment and shoddy services. The threshold for climbing the highest mountain in the world is getting lower and lower when safety should come first, be it from the perspective of the regulators or climbers.

Climbing Qomolangma is becoming fashionable and is being increasingly commercialized. The mountain is under heavy pressure. All kinds of garbage, including human excreta, lie scattered over the mountain, posing a serious threat to the environment.

Cheng Zhaoyan (pinglun.iqilu.com): As the highest point on Earth, Qomolangma appeals to a lot of mountaineering lovers. Today people have better facilities and more professional services, so summiting the mountain is no longer limited to professional climbers. A growing number of amateurs are trying to realize the dream of standing on the peak.

However, courage is not enough. Everyone planning to climb the mountain must assess their capability against the actual difficulties and dangers. Mountaineering is an extreme sport, especially so when the target is Qomolangma. If daredevils insist on going regardless of the dangers and difficulties, they have to be ready to pay a high price. People should not obsess about conquering the mountain.

An untamable mountain

Zhang Tiankan (news.jstv.com): It is an illusion to think that to scale Qomolangma is to conquer it. Even if numerous people have been on the summit, the mountain does not belong to anyone; it is forever part of nature. Though to stand on the highest point on Earth climbers have to overcome loads of difficulties, it does not necessarily mean they are heroes.

It is not a case of humans conquering nature but vice versa. So many people have lost their lives and suffered health hazards. Some had to have their legs amputated and some lost their fingers or toes due to frostbite.

While mountaineering, to some extent, does reveal a climber's confidence and capacity to conquer adverse conditions, it highlights another principle. Not everybody is fit to do so. And everyone should respect nature and the rules of nature.

Take Meri Snow Mountain in southwest China's Yunnan Province for example. Locals believe it's a sacred mountain and their lives depend on the god of the mountain. Climbing the mountain is seen as showing disrespect to this holy mountain, and any injuries or disasters befalling climbers are regarded as just punishment from the god of the mountain.

This is actually an ancient and sustainable way to ensure harmonious coexistence between local dwellers and the mountain that supports their life. In their eyes, the mountain deserves respect.

From the perspective of respecting nature and the environment, protecting ecologically important regions will in turn protect biodiversity and ensure a sustainable supply of resources for human use. Qomolangma is also a very important factor for the regional climate. Protecting it is more important than standing on it.

The summit is a forbidden place and people have to grapple with altitude sickness when they venture there. This is actually nature's warning to them: Do not come here, or your life will be endangered.

It's not that mountaineering should be forbidden, but it's necessary to protect mountains that have a large biodiversity and are ecologically important instead of flocking to stand on their summit. Some summits were never meant to be conquered by humans. To protect Qomolangma and also precious human lives, ambitious climbers should put their summit plans on hold.

Deng Peipei (Daily Sunshine): A string of tragedies around Qomolangma have shown how dangerous the highest point in the world is. Many people have said they can't understand these daredevils. "I don't know what it means for you to scale the mountain. I only know that we have just one life to live," someone wrote on social media.

However, for many climbers, summiting this peak is an expression of their aspiration, even if it means death. There are also people who sympathize with these dream chasers.

Whatever factors caused so many deaths, potential climbers must seriously consider what this sport means to them. Also, respecting Mother nature is a must as it sometimes helps to prevent similar tragedies.

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

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