Everest 2008: American Climber Gets Boot for Pro-Tibetan Flag

An American Climber has become the first person banned on Mt. Everest this year. We have all been hearing about the new rules for Everest initiated by China and Nepal in hopes of curbing protests during the upcoming Olympic Torch run–seems that an American climber may have had other plans.

There are actually a couple of different reports out on this incident. The first, from ExWeb, reports that the climber had signed on a permit with the Everest ECO Expedition, led by Dawa Sherpa. Apparently, it is mentioned, that Nepal’s authorities found the flag on the climber at Basecamp after a search. The climber has since been banned from participating this year on Everest and is currently enroute to Kathmandu.

The second report on this incident is coming from EverestNews. They reveal the American climber as William Brant Holland, who was not with the Eco Everest Expedition, but rather on a permit with Himalayan Guides, out of Kathmandu. They say the Pro-Tibet Banner was found after a search of the climbers’ tent.

It is known that authorities in Nepal specifically stated that any pro-tibetan or anti-China propaganda would be dealt with by banning the climber, and perhaps the expedition as a whole, from Mt. Everest. All climbers heading into the South Basecamp, through Nepal, have been forced to sign a list of given rules, with this specific item listed as one of the first. It is also known that the climbers have all given the Nepalese Liaison officers, who are spread from Basecamp to Camp 2 on Everest, permission to search all of their belongings and confiscate any and all comunications equipment leading up to the supposed May 1st-10th sumit attempt of the Chinese Olympic Torch Relay Team.

As we can clearly see from these two reports, there are definitely two stories related to this incident making the rounds. As the climber heads back to Kathmandu, where communication is not under a lock-down from the climbers, we may get more of this story. In the meantime, I will continue to work it and see what I can come up with.

I think we were all just waiting, knowing that someone was bound to do something, with all the Press now focused on Mt. Everest. It will be interesting to see how Nepal continues to handle this situation in the days ahead, as they have guaranteed China that no incidents of protest would be taking place from their side of Mt. Everest during the Olympic Torch Run.

If I get more info on this breaking story, I will update.