![\"Everest](\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/everest_2008_152-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nChina Daily <\/a>has ignited a media storm with their report that China will invest $14.7 million in a mountaineering museum near the Tibetan township of Gangkar (Gonggar County) – about 20 miles from the traditional Everest Base Camp which is used as a base for attempts on Everest from Tibet. The new Center is planned to open in 2019 – three years before the Olympics.<\/p>\n According to the China Daily report, the center will cover 900,000-sq.-ft. – the equivalent of 3.5 Super Wal-Marts – and support mountaineers, skiers, paragliders and tour guides, plus medical services, travel agencies and a helicopter rescue base.<\/p>\n In other words, Everest could become the Yosemite of China. To the credit of Nepal, the south flanks of Everest are protected from commerce by being within the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Hertigage Site<\/a>.<\/p>\n “There will also be a mountaineering museum; rental and repair centers for cars, motorbikes and bicycles; and restaurants and accommodation,” said Nyima Tsering, the bureau’s deputy director.<\/p>\n The climbing spokesperson for the project is blind Chinese climber Zhang Hong who was said “I’m very excited. The center could be helpful for me to fulfill my dreams.”<\/p>\n A nuance in the announcement was the comment the “the new center will also cooperate with the Nepalese authorities, which govern the southern slope of Qomolangma, to facilitate helicopter rescue services.” This suggest, the Chinese may not suspend their ban on helicopter rescues from Tibet but rather now allow Nepal companies to fly into China for rescues.<\/p>\n Already a high speed train connects Beijing to Lhasa and a paved road connects Lhasa to Everest Base Camp. Thousand of tourist visit the region each year, similar to the Grand Canyon in the United States or the Alps in Europe.<\/p>\n The region is vast and isolated so with hundreds of thousands of tourist arriving annually, support services are needed. Remember that this area is well above 12,000 feet while Beijing is at sea level. Anyone taking the bullet train is bound for altitude sickness.<\/p>\n While climbing Everest gets the headlines, I believe this is more about simple tourism – making it easy for the emerging middle and upper class throughout China to see Everest up close and ‘explore’ Tibet. That is the bottom line in my view.<\/p>\n For many in the climbing community, this is more bad news than good as it will increase the traffic, pollution and red tape associated with climbing Everest. I think it is safe to assume the climbing permits will increase from the $7,000 today to perhaps what Nepal charges, $11,000.<\/p>\n We may see more Chinese teams move to the North. For reference, Chinese nationals must have summited an 8000 meter mountain before being accepted on an Everest climb from China, and the cost is $60,000. Thus many Chinese are climbing from Nepal where there are no requirements and the cost is less than half for them. source<\/a><\/p>\n Those rules and prices may change in order to open the mountain to more Chinese nationals. But, as the Nepalese government has seen, it is bad press for people to die on Everest, assuming they are reported. It is rumored that hundreds of Chinese have died on the North side of Everest over the years and have never been reported.<\/p>\n Thus in an effort to make the mountain safer, it is reasonable to assume the CTMA will double down on their management of fixing the climbing ropes from the North Col to the Summit. That may include holding back teams until they are fixed and even giving Chinese national teams a preference in first ascents.<\/p>\n I am speculating that they may add more ladders on the notorious Steps that prove to be a bottle neck today.<\/p>\n Overall, this news of development is not good news for the climber who seeks the Tibet side as the route less crowded, more extreme and more to brag about. Now it may become like a tourist route on Mont Blanc. They will need to seek lesser climbed, and more challenging routes like the Pinnacles or West ridge – not a bad thing for true climbers.<\/p>\n However, not everyone agrees with my assessment. Adrian Balligner of Alpenglow<\/a> says in his marketing material and press interviews that climbing from the south side is too dangerous for his employees. He has been quoted in the press<\/a> that he supports the benefits of this tourism project:<\/p>\n “Way above and beyond anything else \u2013 helicopter rescue. …. The North Side of Everest is a far more logical and safe way to climb the mountain than the more popular South (Nepali) Side. “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Alpenglow offers a climb from the Tibet side for $85,000. The average price based on my annual survey is around $30,000. You can read his complete thoughts at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Anyone who considers climbing Everest usually ask this question. And you can find outfitters who will tell you what you want to hear to get your business.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nMountaineering Center<\/h3>\n
The Real Objective (imho)<\/h3>\n
Sadly the chances are slim to none that Tibet will return to it’s past life of nomads and free monasteries across it’s vast high Steps. China has embarked on a steady campaign to make Tibet, China and exploiting Tibet for tourism purposes is another step.<\/p>\nClimbing Impact<\/h3>\n
North vs South?<\/h3>\n