Sherpas consider boycott after Everest avalanche

Sherpa guides on Mount Everest are considering a boycott after the deadliest avalanche in the mountain’s history, a move that could seriously disrupt the rest of the climbing season, a mountaineering official said on Monday.

Several Sherpas already have quit while others are still deciding whether to boycott following Friday’s avalanche, said Ang Tshering of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

The disaster killed at least 13 Sherpas when a block of ice tore loose from the mountain and triggered an avalanche that ripped through teams of guides hauling gear. Three other Sherpas remain missing and are presumed dead.

In the wake of the avalanche, the Sherpas have expressed anger that there has not been a bigger response from Nepal’s government, which profits from the permit fees charged to the climbing expeditions.