Everest 2008: William Brant Holland Confirmed as Climber Kicked From Mt. Everest

April 23, 2008

I am now able to confirm that American climber William Brant Holland has been kicked off of Mt. Everest after a Pro-Tibetan flag was found in his tent. This comes as an update to two recent reports, one featured on EverestNews, the other on ExplorersWeb about this incident. You may read my first report HERE concernng these unfolding events.

The confirmation is coming through a news report on Yahoo News:

“The Kathmandu-based expedition company which organised the Everest
permit for the climber identified him as William Brant Holland, and
said the incident had already landed it in trouble with the government.

The Expedition company is Himalayan Guides, based out of Kathmandu.

Himalayan Guides also states that their whole Expedition is now in trouble for this incident from Nepal’s government. The team has 15 days to offer a clarification of the incident before further action is taken, that could include banning the team from climbing this year.

“His move has put us in a difficult position as the government has sent a letter to us seeking clarification within 15 days.”

It is also stated that although William Brant Holland was climbing with Himalayan Guides, that he had been a part of the Eco Everest Expedition. This will go to show that both ExplorersWeb and EverestNews were correct in their reporting, although of a slightly different nature to each. There should be no more confusion in this incident at his point.

The article on Yahoo News also states that the climber could now be placed on a ‘blacklist’ of climbers banned from Mt. Everest and other Himalayan peaks. This ‘blacklist’ (which is news to me as well) would ban the climber from any mountaineering activities in the region for several years.

It is also noted that Holland was the only climber banned, to date, out of this incident and the first one banned since new rules took effect on Mt. Everest this past month in regards to the Chinese Olympic Torch Run.

The cost of an Expedition with the Eco Everest team is $16,500 per person, plus other fees depending on the number of Sherpa each climber takes, as well as if the expedition is successful. I don’t know why there is an added fee to a ’successful Everest summit’ unless this is just a tip to the Sherpas involved in the expedition.

Kind of an expensive mistake for a $30 flag, but at this point, with climbers having to sign a list of rules before gaining a permit to climb Everest, they all know what to expect and the consequences of breaking the rules set down by the Nepalese government.

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