Garbage on Everest?

Every year, approximately 800 people attempt to summit Mt. Everest. Over 4000 people have reached the peak since the first ascent by Sir Edmond Hillary in 1953.

What does every climber have in common, despite coming from different nationalities, and ethnic backgrounds? Gear, most notably including cooking fuel and oxygen bottles.

The problem with such gear is that it is very difficult and exhausting to take up, and even more treacherous to take on the decent. As a result, many items get left behind, and the garbage builds up. Everest is rapidly becoming the world's highest garbage dump. Unfortunately, the Nepalese government has very little power to enforce the "take  your trash out with you" rule.

Additionally, due to extreme weather conditions, avalanches, and high altitude, many climbers have perished during their expeditions. If a climber dies on Everest, It is nearly impossible to recover the body. Temperatures as low as -60°C means that bodies will quickly freeze to the rock, becoming stiff and unmovable. A lack of microorganisms (due to the extreme temperatures) also means that the bodies will not decay over time.

Sometimes, bodies are even used as landmarks, most notably, "Green boots cave" on the north route. The name was given to an unidentified climber wearing bright green mountaineering boots in a small alcove at 8500m. The body was later identified to be  Tsewang Paljor, an Indian climber who died in 1996.