The world's highest mountain has been found in the center of global debate on the environment. In recent years, climbers at base camp have raised criticism because of the high altitude accumulated garbage left by expeditions to the summit. Environmentalists have also used changes in the environment on Mount Everest (8,848 meters) to highlight the issue of global climate change. However, this reduction in advertising in both directions, but Everest does both a cause for concern and a great platform for exposure of important ecological issues.

Everest Clean

Clean up at high altitude is a difficult task. Beyond the altitude of 7,000 meters, where the air becomes significantly thin, climbers understandably, more concerned about lightening your load and make his trip to keep the floor clear of rubbish.

This is particularly the case beyond the field 4 (7,920 m), where the mountaineers that final push to the summit, or are striking back in safety. Because of this, has not ruled out the computer and empty oxygen bottles accumulating for many years.

There cleaning a series of expeditions to Everest (8,848 m). In 2000, National Geographic filmed a whole-cleaning activities in the mountains and even managed to Sharon Stone do the voiceover for the documentary. Another full-scale cleaning Walking Everest base camp was organized by a Japanese team in 2007. Increasingly, the climbers are encouraged to use recyclable metal containers, which feed on scrap metal industry in Nepal, and the number of victims by throwing garbage on Everest is used to fund the mission of bringing order to progress.

Despite these efforts, the protest continues and the condition of the world's highest mountain is has become a symbol of how they mistreat our natural wonders. Even the legend Apa Sherpa, Everest trekking veteran with 19 summits of Everest to its name, has used his fame to bring attention to the problem.

However, the emphasis of this concern has recently shifted to focus on the effects on Mount Everest of a wider problem. More alarming is that the garbage (and the less easily rectified) is the environmental damage is caused Everest global climate change.

And this is where the concerns of environmentalists and community Everest tend to overlap. The enthusiasts of outdoor activities free, climbers, and adventure travel companies that variations in the behavior of the Everest Base Camp Trek all agree: they want to secure the future of the wonderful landscape Nepal.

Global Warming

It's easy to see even anecdotal evidence how global warming is affecting the landscape around the Everest Base Camp Trek trails. For a time, Sherpas have been reporting on how the layers of snow have left, and Greenpeace have issued a "before and after 'image by comparing a photograph of the Rongbuk Glacier taken in 1968 and how it looks today. Changes, reduction of snow peaks and towers ice is in sight, and the like have been recorded in thousands of miles away mountains such as Mount Kilimanjaro (5,893 m) in Tanzania.

Either that is the cause of this change, the importance of glacial melting should not be underestimated. Water from melting Himalayan glaciers provide the volume of water to the Indus, the Yangtze and Ganges rivers, affecting the populations that depend on that water. If Himalayan glaciers melt significantly, it could dangerously increase half flooding along the rivers, followed by a severe water shortage in the long term.

Again Everest trekking luminaries such as Apa Sherpa is very clear about the cause. Following its Eco-climbing Everest in 2009, the next issue of this month will be to climb an unnamed (and possibly untapped) peak in Nepal. He likely to be armed with a banner of photographs of the summit: "Stop Climate Change – That the Himalaya Live!"

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have run the Everest Base Camp Trek for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

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