Nepal sits between India and China’s Tibetan region and it’s keen on drawing even more climbers because, quite simply, they bring in a hefty slice of revenue. More than half of the world’s 14 mountains soaring above 8,000 meters—those famed eight-thousanders—are already in Nepal, but the nation isn’t satisfied.
The Ministry of Tourism now wants to reclassify six additional secondary peaks as independent eight-thousanders. Even though these peaks top 8,000 meters, they haven’t yet earned a spot in the exclusive list. If they get the nod, Nepal’s eight-thousander count will hit 14.
There are quite a few reasons behind this initiative. Nepal, which has limited resources, relies heavily on tourism, and mountaineering is one of its lifelines. The government in Kathmandu is betting that by spotlighting six more eight-thousanders, more climbers will be drawn to their slopes.
In most cases, this boost in visitors would help everyone—from the officials who collect serious ascent fees to trekking companies, mountain guides, and even local hotel owners.
Some climbers mention that Nepal has been pushing for this change for a decade now. Figuring out what really counts as a mountain’s true summit isn’t a straightforward task. Up to now, the International Mountaineering Federation hasn’t treated every high point in a range as a separate summit, instead labeling many as secondary peaks. These aren’t counted among the 14 officially recognized eight-thousanders worldwide, and the federation isn’t planning to enlarge that list any time soon.
Critics of the plan point to familiar concerns. Photographs showing long queues on Mount Everest and persistent waste issues in the Himalayas catch global attention. There’s a worry that adding more eight-thousanders might worsen these problems. Still, Nepal has often chosen tourism income over environmental worries, and being a developing nation, it leans heavily on tourist dollars. To tackle waste, the idea is that climbers take their trash back down in special bags—but whether this will work well remains up in the air.
Not everyone is on board, especially seasoned mountaineers. Many feel increasingly exasperated as mountaineering tourism grows. Nowadays, tourists with deep pockets can pay to have guides lead them up these towering peaks, and as a result, overcrowding on Everest is becoming a real headache. Traffic jams on the slopes and a rise in fatal accidents have become all too common, even though experienced climbers continue to sound the alarm. For now, though, commercial interests seem to be calling the shots.