I don't like how the first graphic splits into "climbers" and "Sherpas". If anything, the Sherpas are the true climbers, as they do that all their life, and their physical abilities are probably up to olympic athlete level in most cases. The "climbers" should be labelled "western tourists" (except for the mountain guides).
> The ITBP, however, says that Paljor’s body is hopelessly stuck, and that anyway, they can’t guarantee that it actually belongs to Paljor – or even to an Indian for that matter<p>Looking at the pictures it appears that someone has rolled Paljor over as you can see him resting on both sides with his jacket less faded on the most recently exposed side. Clearly not that stuck.
This seems like such an obvious use for robots, and given the explosion of robots in delivery and other fields now, I'm curious if anyone has tried it ? Why can't battery powered robots, with sleds, controlled from base camp, clean up the mountain - picking up the dead and perhaps some trash too ?
As an aside, pretty baffling that people go to all the trouble to travel through such a unique, pristine environment and still won't bother to clean up their rubbish (just to be clear, actual garbage, not human remains).
Does it really matter if there is trash and dead bodies up there? Who's bothered or poisoned by this? Other rich people?
Is there an ecosystem up there?
I do find it ridiculous that hikers are allowed to attempt the climb, and that if they die on the climb their bodies are allowed to litter the landscape forever.<p>When you attempt a climb, it should be required that you pay a deposit that will pay for 1) removal of all trash left by you assuming that everything you carry becomes trash and 2) recovery and removal of your body in case you die on the climb.<p>Since mostly wealthy people do these climbs it shouldn't be a problem at all.
When I climb a mountain (and I've climbed plenty), I don't want to see people, living or dead. It detracts from the experience. Everest? No thanks.