In a recent interview, the only surviving member of the historic mountaineering expedition that first conquered Mount Everest expressed concerns over the increasing crowding and pollution on the world's highest peak. Kanchha Sherpa, who was part of the team that successfully led Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to the summit on May 29, 1953, emphasized the need to respect the mountain as a sacred entity.
Kanchha Sherpa, now 91 years old, highlighted the growing number of climbers attempting to scale Everest each year, leading to overcrowding at the summit. During the spring climbing season in 2023, a total of 667 climbers reached the peak, accompanied by thousands of support staff at the base camp between March and May.
