MOUNT EVEREST – We’ve all heard stories of the garbage on Mount Everest, and it seems the Nepalese government has figured out a pretty ingenious way to do something about it. According to the Kathmandu Post, heavy lifter drones, made by Da Jing Innovations (DJI), will be used to transport garbage off of multiple mountains in the area, including Everest.
The drones, likely the Flycart 30, will first be used to transport garbage off Ama Dablam, a 22,349 foot mountain south of Everest, this upcoming fall. Come spring, the drones will be utilized on Mount Everest, taking on tasks typically done by Sherpas, and potentially reducing the casualties on the world’s highest mountain.
Drones will be used to fly ropes and ladders from Base Camp (17,598 feet) to Camp I (19,468 feet), bypassing the dangerous Khumbu Icefall. On the way back down, the drones will have the ability to bring garbage with them, cleaning up Camp I.
A test completed in April showed that the DJI Flycart 30 could transport up to around 515 pounds from Camp I to Base Camp in just an hour, a task that’s usually reserved for 14 porters, and typically takes closer to six hours.
Sherpa guides might cross the Khumbu Icefall 30 times in one season, moving ropes and ladders up the mountain. This section, which is usually reserved for night or early morning travel, is often considered one of the most dangerous sections of the ascent and has killed 50 people between 1953 and 2023.
“Yes, there are concerns that the machines may actually cut jobs. But our sole purpose is to reduce potential deaths in the Khumbu Icefall, the danger zone… We will train Sherpas, as drone operators cannot handle tasks at the higher camps. In the future, all work will be done by Sherpas.” – Chief administration officer of the municipality that includes Everest, Jagat Bhusal
During testing, the drone succeeded at lifting ~66 pounds (30kg) from Camp I, and ~40 pounds (18kg) from Camp II.