The government of Nepal has come under scrutiny after 11 people died climbing Mount Everest this year, making it the fourth-deadliest climbing season on record.
Many have criticized the government for issuing climbing permits to just about anyone who can foot the $11,000 bill, creating deadly traffic on the summit where the lack of oxygen causes the body to slowly shut down.
In the wake of the backlash over the recent spate of deaths, several government officials in the small Asian country told The New York Times on Wednesday that they are reviewing what caused this year to be so deadly.
So far, they are leaning toward requiring prospective Everest climbers to submit proof of mountaineering experience and a certificate of good health if they want to buy a permit to climb the world's tallest mountain.
Read more: 11 pictures that show just how dangerous Mount Everest really is
"Certainly there will be some change in the expedition sector," Mira Acharya, a senior official with Nepal's tourism department, told The Times. "We are discussing reforming some issues, including setting criteria for every Everest hopeful.''
Acharya said that at a recent meeting "we raised the issue of inexperienced climbers."
In order to get a permit to climb Everest under Nepal's current rules, foreign climbers must submit a copy of their passport, some biographical data, and a certificate showing they are healthy enough to make it to the top. But the officials who spoke to The Times admitted they don't have a way to verify bills of health.
"It's time to review all the old laws," Yagya Raj Sunuwar, a member of Parliament, told the newspaper.
- Read more:
- THEN AND NOW: Photos show how climbing Mount Everest has morphed into a big, dangerous business in 6 decades
- What happens to your body in Mount Everest's 'Death Zone,' where 11 people have died in the past week
- Dead bodies litter Mount Everest because it's so dangerous and expensive to get them down
- What 'summit fever' and the spike in deaths on Mount Everest can teach you about the dark side of goals
