Everest 2008: The NEW Rules of Everest–Electronics Locked Up, All Communications from Everest Censored!–The Complete Run-Down of Rules and Regulations for 2008 Everest Expeditions…FINALLY

April 3, 2008

Finally there has been a confirmation regarding the rules of Everest in 2008. I made a post earlier in the week with a list of ‘preliminary’ rules gathered from EverestNews. It does seem that most of these have been, in fact passed. ExplorersWeb broke in today with the official permit paper to be signed by climbers upon entering the Everest region. It reads as follows:

“Conditions to be fulfilled by Team Leader of the expedition team for Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse

“The Ministry of Tourism in Nepal sent the following regulations
for Conditions to be fulfilled by Team Leader of the expedition team
for Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse:

1. The team shall not carry and exhibit any things like flags,
banners, stickers, pamphlets or any audio visual devices that may harm
bilateral relationship between Nepal and China.

Our team fully agrees to allow the liaison officer to check any
things belonging to the team if he thinks suspicious. Likewise we fully
agree to the fact that the liaison officer has the right to seize if
found such materials and send back the team or any member of the team
to Kathmandu.

The government may take action to those for violating/ breaching
law of land relating to bilateral relations between Nepal & its
friendly country.

2. The expedition team will manage the system of registering daily
attendance of members and helpers of the team and report to the
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation by the Liaison Officer.

3. The team will deposit all its electronic equipments for lock up
in the Police post at the base camp and if necessary use the equipments
available with the government units till 10th of May, 2008.

4. Any member or helper of the team shall not proceed above camp II before 10th of May, 2008.

5. The mountaineering expedition team must visit the Sagarmatha
Pollution Committee (SPCC) office at Namche Bazaar prior to their
departure to the base camps. The team must give list of the disposable
and non-disposable goods to SPCC and allow them to inspect the goods,
SPCC will give necessary information regarding the waste management
system of expedition in the Khumbu region.

6. All the goods must be classified into three categories and described and recorded at SPCC

- Disposable in the Khumbu region, which can be incinerated and
biodegraded: Toilet paper, cardboard boxes and paper waste, bamboo
baskets and mats, cotton and jute bags, spoiled goods, dead bodies.

- Recycling materials: Tins, bottles, Jars and plastic containers,
plastic and foil bags sheeting, reusable cooking gas cylinders, gas
canisters.

- Re-exportable goods: Used oxygen bottles, used batteries, climbing equipment such as tents, personal gears, etc.

Disposable goods must be brought down from the base camps to Namche
Bazaar and handed over to SPCC Recycling materials should be brought
down to Kathmandu (after recording at SPCC) and to be handed over to
Solid Waste Management Center for Recycling.

The re-exportable goods like used oxygen bottles and batteries must
be taken back from Nepal to their own countries respective of whether
they are purchased in Nepal or elsewhere, and export certificate should
be taken from Customs Office. The garbage deposit amount will be
refunded only after submission of the above mentioned papers. And
failure to do so may result in cancellation of expedition permit and
banning the team and its members for further expeditions in Nepal.

7. Burning or burying any short of garbage at the base camp is strictly prohibited.

8. Painting on rocks is not allowed.

9. All the news regarding the expedition must be conveyed to the
Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation first of all, and only then it
can be sent to others. The satellite phone, V.H.G. and U.G.V. wireless
sets, and any other communication equipment must not be used for
commercial purpose, failure to do so may result in confiscation of
equipment, cancellation of the expedition permit and additional penalty
according to law.

10. SPCC can check and monitor sanitary condition of the base camp at any time.

11. Liaison Officer, appointed as representative of government are
there to help the teams as well as to monitor all the rules and
regulations. So, they must be with the teams all the times. Likewise we
fully agree to the fact that the liaison officer has the right

12. At the base camps, which are situated in glacier, human wastes
(toilets) must be collected in portable plastic drums or barrels and
disposed at proper site below base camp. In the base camps teams make
proper toilet pits, giving adequate consideration to sanitation and
environment.

13. We will be fully committed to abide by the instruction given
during the briefing programme and within the frame of permission
letter.

We agree to abide by the terms and conditions mentioned above/Signature.

The big difference between the EverestNews and ExplorersWeb reports are that climbers will only be allowed to Camp 2, not Camp 3 as EverestNews reported earlier in the week.

What is this going to do to communications this season coming off Everest?

Virtually, it will shut down all reports not ok’d by Nepal–which by my measure could actually be ALL reports, if they so choose. You have to use their equipment to make reports, as well as run the reports through their Ministry of Tourism department before giving the OK to post. Doesn’t leave much room for error.

Please be aware while reading reports of this season, that they may not be the FULL STORY, for that we will have to wait till after at least May 10th, and quite possibly until the expeditions are over. Many Expedition companies will fully comply with all restrictions–if they do not comply, they are taking a risk of not getting a permit next year–

With that being said, and by no means was this good news coming out of Nepal, I will continue to do my best and report what is coming from the region, if anything. We do know that all photos and videos are strictly forbidden until May 10th. All electronic Equipment must be locked up at Basecamp.

I am sure that once this gets out in the Press, there will be more international outrage at the limitations of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press not only from China regarding Tibet, but now it looks as if Nepal has joined the circus as well.. For many of these expeditions, they had planned to work with schools ect. showing the kids how it is on the world’s tallest peak, now it looks as if that won’t be happening anytime before May 10th as well.

(Thanks to The Adventure Blog for the tip-off, as well as ExplorersWeb for the post.)

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