Along with poo bags to carry down excrement, Nepal has announced another new requirement for Everest this spring. All clients must rent an electronic tracking chip and wear it on the mountain.
Rakesh Gurung, director of the Department of Tourism of Nepal, told CNN that the chip “will cut down search-and-rescue time in the event of an accident.”
The chip, which costs $10-$15 per person, will be sewn into climbers’ jackets, like a Recco reflector.
After the climb ends, the chip will be removed from the jacket, returned to Nepalese authorities, and later given to the next person. According to Gurung, the chips were manufactured in Europe.
The climbing season on Everest begins in April. Every year, hundreds of international clients flock to the Khumbu Valley to climb the highest mountain in the world. Last year, a record 18 people died on Everest.
