The Himalayas now mostly rock, blame climate change?

Sunday, June 10, 2018, 2:14 PM - During our voyage to Nepal, I had a chance to sit down with Kamche Sherpa. He was the last living Sherpa that took part in the famous Hillary Expedition in 1953, the first successful Mount Everest Summit. 

This man was inspiring to say the least. I almost felt like he could take on the mountain today if he tried. 

When we met Kamche, we were given beautiful silk scarves from our Exodus travel guide, Sukman. He told us to give them to Kamche when we greeted him. This is very common in Nepal, to offer someone a gift when meeting them, especially someone like Kamche Sherpa. 

A very renowned man, with an important story to tell -- though his story would be different now than when he first trekked up to Camps 1, 2 ,3 and 4 on the way to the death zone on the slopes of Everest. 

Back then, it was white with snow. Now, it is most often rock. Serious melting is occurring, and I took the time to explore what I learned from an elder like Kamche, below.

The Himalaya Glaciers

The high Himalayan and Inner Asian ranges have 116,180 km2 of glacial ice, the largest concentration outside the polar regions. Throughout the Greater Himalayas, water melts from permanent snow and ice, as well as seasonal snow packs and is stored in high‐elevation wetlands and lakes. This melt and run off is an integral part of the water systems and water supply across Nepal. 

Even with the snow seemingly shrinking away, there’s no water shortage expected anytime in the near future, but we could see melting cause jams and major flooding where the runoff moves into other tributaries and river systems. This is already happening and will continue to happen.

How could climate change affect future climbers?

Overall there could be less climbing using crampons on snow, and a resurgence in traditional rock climbing. Perhaps this snow and avalanche potential could be more dangerous with icy conditions and unstable snowpack. 

The most dangerous part of the ascent is the Khumbu Icefall, I'm told. The icefall between Base Camp and Camp 1 may see a higher frequency of rock and ice avalanches — like the one that killed 16 Sherpas in 2014. As it stands, the icefall slowly merges downhill between three and four feet per day, but that could accelerate as temperatures rise. This area is traditionally crossed by ladders strung out horizontally across the dangerous crevasses. As warming progresses, it may open wide enough to become impassible. 

INSERT VIDEO OF KHUMBU FROM HELICOPTER

The changing appearance does not stop potential summit-hungry climbers of the tallest place on earth however. The peak brings approximately a thousand climbers per year to take a stab at one of the most difficult adventures one could encounter. The most popular routes are the South Col route from the Nepalese side and the North Col route from the Tibetan side. 

But more than 300 climbers have died in the attempt, mostly due to avalanches, injury from fall, ice collapse, exposure, frostbite, or health problems related to conditions on the mountain. 

Not all bodies have been located and, due to the difficulties and dangers in recovering them, most of those who die on the mountain remain where they fall, although some are moved by winds and ice.

Kamche Sherpa told us that climbers are far too overconfident these days, and the mountain should be respected. It is not an ascent for novices, and those who plan to climb it should be properly trained. 

He also told us that, years ago on Everest, the ice would still be at base camp until the end of May, but now base camp is full of running water and open rock by April. This could make for a whole new way of training for the mountain, different from his own training years ago. 

Kamche Sherpa's grandson has become a glaciologist in Nepal and he also expressed his concern of the rapidly changing conditions on the mountain when we spoke to him. He reveres his grandfather and knows the challenges that he endured when he summited in 1953.