Nepal May Ban Solo Everest Climbers

Nepal, in a bid to boost local employment and prevent incidents like last year's nasty Sherpa-climber clash, is thinking about requiring climbers going up Everest or other peaks higher than 26,000 feet to bring local guides with them. "We want to ensure the safety of climbers and generate job opportunities for local guides to boost our economy," says an official at the country's tourism ministry, which hopes to persuade neighboring countries to establish similar rules, the New York Times reports.

Authorities say climbers—some of whom relish the challenge of conquering the world's highest peak alone—have been felled by high altitude sickness because of lack of proper knowledge, E Kantipur reports. The guides would also help with a new requirement that stipulates Everest climbers bring back at least 18 pounds of trash from a mountain now littered with more than 50 tons of waste. For the first time, this year's Everest climbing season will also feature a government security post at base camp to enforce the rules—and prevent more brawls. (More Mount Everest stories.)