If you’re making the trek up to Mount Everest through the Khumbu Valley something new will catch your eye at Base Camp a shiny signboard to greet you. This signboard proudly displays pictures of “Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing NorgayZ” two legendary climbers. It’s strategically placed right in front of a large rock that’s covered in graffiti. For years that boulder has been the unofficial symbol marking the arrival at Base Camp. People have been buzzing about this change on social media platforms ever since the first pictures of the signboard surfaced.
Navigating your way to Everest Base Camp isn’t straightforward because it’s sprawling and vast. Expedition tents are typically pitched as close to the Khumbu Icefall as possible. However, for regular trekkers, the old graffiti-covered boulder served as a landmark, indicating they had reached their destination, along with the impressive altitude of 5,364 meters.
This year the Pasang Lhamu Municipality made a bold decision they swapped out the beloved iconic stone at Everest Base Camp with a new welcome sign. However this move hasn’t exactly been welcomed with open arms.
Negative Reactions
The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. “Everest Today” a popular blog, was quick to share a picture of the new sign, expressing their disappointment: “That old iconic stone was a thousand times better than this new one.”
Adding to the discourse, Kenton Cool, a renowned Everest guide from the UK, posted a photo of the new banner on social media. While Cool himself remained neutral, his followers weren’t shy about voicing their discontent. Many saw this change as another example of the increasing commercialization of the world’s highest mountain, and they weren’t happy about it.
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