Extreme travel destination to restrict popular mountain access

Daredevils may run into a hiccup if they're looking to climb the world's highest mountain.

Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas, is exploring restricting access to the summit.

Those wanting to climb Mount Everest would have to provide evidence of having climbed at least one 7,000-meter (22,965 ft.) mountain in Nepal.

In 2023, 12 climbers were reported dead while five went missing following 478 hiking permits issued by Nepal, according to Reuters. 

That's where the air is too thin to support human life without supplemental oxygen.

Austria-based expedition organizer, Lukas Furtenbach of Furtenbach Adventures, told Reuters the Himalayan experience requirement "doesn't make sense."

"I would also add mountains that are close to 7,000 meters to that list and that are widely used as preparation, like Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali and others," said Furtenbach.

Garrett Madison of Madison Mountaineering shared a similar sentiment, telling Reuters a 6,500-meter peak anywhere in the world would be a better idea.

Tashi Lhakpa Sherpa of the 14 Peaks Expedition in Nepal told Reuters that "only a few of the 7,000-meter mountains attract climbers."

About 700 and 1,000 climbers attempt the summit each year, with success rates ranging between 60% and 70%, according to Climbing Kilimanjaro. 

Reuters contributed reporting to this article.