LEVISSIMA FOREVEREST cleans up Everest camps

Rubbish collection from as high as ABC by LEVISSIMA FOREVEREST clean-up expedition

Mnet

June 2000

The clean-up operation of Everest Base Camp in Tibet, carried out by the LEVISSIMA FOREVEREST expedition and supported by the Tibetan Mountaineering Association, is now well underway.

It began 15 days ago by collecting the rubbish from Everest Base Camp (5200m), where over 400 members of 24 expeditions were based this season. The team then cleaned up the area leading up to Advanced Base Camp (6400m). This tortuous and winding path along the glacial moraine includes two intermediate camps used since 1921 to acclimatise and rest.

So far dozens of bags of rubbish discarded over the years have been collected and transported back down to Base Camp where the LEVISSIMA FOREVEREST team will now create a so-called "ecological island". This area for separating waste will be managed by the Tibetan Mountaineering Association.

According to Mario Pinoli, team member and expert in mountain ecology, the situation is serious. There is a striking and unacceptable contrast between the area's natural beauty and one of the worst aspects of our consumer society - rubbish, he added.

A view of Everest Base Camp, situated at 5200 m. The North Face of Everest can be seen in the distance
photo Francesco Tremolada

The Italian internet site www.levissima.it contains QuickTime VR's of Everest Base Camp, maps, information about Chomolungma's history, an Everest Who is Who and much more.