Mount Everest is experiencing gridlock traffic.
Apparently Mount Everest is no longer all that insurmountable.
Reportedly, in 2012, 56 percent of all climbers reached the top, and one particularly busy day logged an astonishing 234 people on the summit.
This has led to a few congestion and traffic flow problems. At some points on the mountain and in the day, summit seekers can wait in lines for over two hours.
The quantity of climbers has also spawned problems with litter and compromised sanitation.
Many seasoned mountaineers feel the excursion, which can run anywhere from 10 to 100 thousand dollars, has been commercialized to the point where it diminishes its own significance.
Climbers are now often equipped with sufficient oxygen, Nepalese guides who help them to the top, and ropes fixed to the mountain that help them ascend it.
Those looking for a more authentic and difficult climb can take a detour and head towards K2. It’s steeper, colder, and less predictable.
Only about 280 people have been able to summit the mountain, compared to the 3000 or so who have conquered Everest.
