Renowned British mountaineer Kenton Cool, who recently completed his remarkable 17th ascent of Mount Everest, has expressed concerns over the mountain’s changing landscape. Cool, the foreigner with the highest number of successful Everest ascents, noted that the iconic peak is showing signs of drying out, with a significant reduction in snow cover and an increase in rocky terrain. This observation has led him to speculate that these changes could be attributed to climate change. Cool, who first scaled the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit in 2004, shared his observations upon returning from his latest expedition. He expressed astonishment at the unprecedented rockfalls he witnessed along the Lhotse Face, a section of the route leading to the Everest summit.
These occurrences, according to Cool, serve as a clear indication of the mountain’s aridity. He attributed this shift to a lack of precipitation and reduced snowfall, possibly associated with global warming or other environmental transformations. Climate scientists have already established that the Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.74º Celsius over the past century. However, the Himalayan region, including Mount Everest, has experienced even greater warming compared to global averages. In Nepal, the average temperature has been increasing by 0.06ºC annually. This trend can be partly attributed to the country’s geographical location between two major polluters, China and India.
Despite achieving an impressive milestone with his 17th ascent, Cool emphasized that this might not be his last venture on Everest. He expressed his intention to return to the mountain next year, indicating his commitment to further explore the changing conditions and raise awareness about the potential impacts of climate change on the world’s tallest peak. Mount Everest’s transformation into a drier and rockier environment, as observed by Kenton Cool, highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and its far-reaching consequences. As one of nature’s most iconic landmarks faces significant alterations, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for collective action to mitigate the impact of environmental changes and preserve the natural wonders of our planet.