Sherpas Rally to Support Climbers Who Illegally Skied On Everest
Mt. Everest as seen from the air. Wikipedia photo.
Earlier this week, we reported that two American ski mountaineers and researchers were in deep trouble with the Nepalese government after skiing down part of Everest. The two climbers, Matt Moniz and Willie Benegas, are on Everest to recreate a NASA study exploring how high altitude and stressful environments can impact genetics by taking gene samples on the mountain and comparing them to their twins at sea level. Moniz is a 20-year old Dartmouth college student climbing with experienced Everest guide Benegas.
Science aside, the two climbers were unaware that skiing between Camp 3 and Camp 2 via the Lhotse face required a special permit, not surprising since the only regulations outlining such a permit are not even available in English and the Tourism Act 2035 does not mention the requirement. After hearing about the ski descent, government officials immediately started an investigation and recommended that their expedition’s climbing permit be revoked.
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
In a turn of good news, and a testament to their spirit, nearly 150 Sherpas signed a petition to appeal the government’s decision and allow Moniz and Benegas to remain on the mountain and finish their mission. According to the Himalayan Times, the Sherpa’s letter read: “We will support the government if it takes action against anything illegal on the mountains, but in the case of Willie’s short ski descent, we all thought that giving punishment to Willie is not a fair decision of the government since Willie has been coming to Nepal over the past 20 years and supporting Nepal’s economy by bringing many tourists. He has also created jobs for many Nepali climbers, guides and porters.”
Argentine-American alpinist Benegas has led multiple expeditions to Everest over the past two decades, and has become well known amongst the local Sherpa community. He has summited Everest 11 times, has won the Kumar Khadga Bikram Adventurous Award for rescue assistance, and has left a notably positive impact on the tourism economy, hence the Sherpa support. Moniz was named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2010 after summiting 4 of the seven summits by age 12. He has also summited Cho Oyu and Makalu, and is an accomplished alpine climber in his home of Colorado.
The two climbers remain at basecamp and hope to continue their study as well as summit both Everest and Lhotse.
