KATMANDU, Nepal — A Sherpa from Nepal who holds the world’s record for scaling Mount Everest said Monday the planet’s highest peak was littered with trash and warned that its glaciers were melting because of global warming.
Apa, who like most Sherpas goes by one name, scaled the peak last week not to draw attention to his own amazing feat — he has now climbed Everest a record 19 times — but to the effect that global warming is having on the majestic site.
Environmental activists say glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, creating lakes whose walls could burst and flood villages below. Melting ice and snow make the routes for mountaineers less stable and more difficult to follow.
“We have only one Everest, we need to clean it, protect it,” said Apa, who flew back to Katmandu on Monday after reaching the 29,035-foot summit Thursday for the 19th time.
One aim of Apa’s expedition was to help clean up the mountain. The climbers brought about 11,000 pounds of garbage from the higher slopes to base camp. The trash will eventually be carried down by porters and yaks.
