Mount Everest climbers must abide by new rule because mountain stinks so much from them pooing on it

Explorers who are planning to make the expedition up Mount Everest should be aware of a new rule in place to reduce waste.

Human waste, that is - there are new measures to try and limit the stench on the mountain for daredevil climbers.

Climbing Mount Everest might be on your bucket list if you're more of an adventurous person, and now there's even more to consider on top of all the equipment you'll need and preparation you'll do.

Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Pasang Lhamu rural municipality in Nepal, spoke to the BBC, revealing: "Our mountains have begun to stink.

"We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable and erodes our image."

This is due to the sub-zero temperatures that stops faeces from degrading, therefore allowing it to maintain its stench.

Climbers do usually do their business in specially erected toilet tents at base camp, where they also acclimatise to the altitude.

If they need to go on the way, usually they would dig a hole but in the less snowy areas, there is no choice and they would do it in the open.

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The new rule is that climbers will be ordered to buy special poo bags at base camp for them to do their business in. They will have to carry these bags around with them, which will be 'checked upon their return'.

Authorised by the Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, 8,000 poo bags are on the way from the US so the estimated 1,200 foreign climbers and support staff can use them during climbing season, which is set to begin in March.

What makes the poo bags so special are the chemicals and powders that help to solidify the excrement, making it odourless.

The average climber is expected to produce 250 grams of faeces each day, spending around two weeks on the higher camps if they're attempting to reach the summit.

Mr Chhiring, CEO of non-government organisation Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) explains: "With that as the basis, we plan to give them two bags, each of which they can use five to six times,"

That's a lot of poo to carry.

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There is no official figure, but SPCC estimates that there is around three tonnes of human poo between camp one near the bottom of the mountain, and camp four, towards the summit.

That is, altogether, a van-sized piece of poo.

"Half of that is believed to be in South Col, also known as camp four," Mr Chhiring reveals.

International mountain guide Stephen Keck has said that South Col is known as an 'open toilet'.

Lovely.

It is almost 8000 metres high, as Mr Keck says: "There is hardly any ice and snow, so you will see human stools all around."

Mr Keck also agrees that it is a positive thing and it will benefit climbers and improve the experience.

Well, hopefully this new rule encourages you to go even more if you were planning to.

Topics: News, World News, Travel

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

@joshnair10