Why is it now necessary to "ask for a turn" to climb Everest, the highest mountain in the world?

If you imagine the summit of Mount Everest, what you see can be a snowy and calm summit, far from civilization.

But an astonishing photo, taken by mountaineer Nirmal Purja, shows how much this place can be much more populated.

The Purja photo sparked worldwide interest amidst the tragic news that eight mountaineers died on Everest last week.

The picture gives an idea of ​​the difficult conditions facing those who undertake the ascent of the highest peak in the world.

Is it normal to see such long tails near the top?

Yes, according to the guides. This happens quite often during the climbing season.

"It is normal for there to be a crowd," said Mingma Sherpa, president of Seven Summits Treks, adding that mountain climbers sometimes line up between 20 minutes and an hour and a half to reach the summit.

Frequently, it depends on the length of time waiting for a climate conducive to climbing, as mountaineers must avoid jet streams that could hinder the ascent.

"If there is a week (in safe weather), then the summit will not be full, but sometimes, when there is a waiting time of two or three days, there is a lot of people because all mountaineers are trying to reach it at the same time, "says the BBC Mingma Sherpa.

This is not the first time that the crowds on Everest appear in the headlines.

In 2012, another photo taken by German mountaineer Ralf Dujmovits became viral, showing what he called a "conga lineage" of Mountaineers from Everest.

Is it dangerous?

Dujmovits, who reached the summit of Everest in 1992 and climbed up to 8,000 meters from the mountain on six other occasions, says that these long lines can be dangerous.

"When people have to wait in line, they run the risk of running out of oxygen and may not have enough oxygen to go down."

In 1992, this happened to him during his descent and he had the impression that "someone hit me with a wooden hammer," he says.

"I had the feeling that it was hard for me to move in. I was very lucky to be able to recover enough and make my way safely."

"When you have winds over 15 km / h, you can not survive without oxygen … you lose a lot of body heat."

Worse yet, the oxygen tanks available to designated mountaineers are sometimes stolen.

"Stealing oxygen at such a height is no less serious than killing someone," says Maya Sherpa (who has reached the top three times) at BBC Nepal.

"The government must coordinate with the Sherpas to enforce the rules."

Why are there traffic jams?

Experts say the crowds on Everest have also increased in recent years as shipments have become more popular.

Andrea Ursina Zimmerman, an expedition guide who reached Everest Peak in 2016, explains that many "bottlenecks" are caused by unsuspecting mountaineers who "do not have the physical conditions" necessary for the trip.

This endangers not only their lives, but also the Sherpas who lead them to the mountains.

Mountain guide Norbu Sherpa, mountain guide for Zimmerman's husband, remembers having had an argument at 8,600 meters with an exhausted mountaineer, but had insisted on continuing until the summit.

"We had a big discussion and I had to tell him that I was risking the lives of two Sherpas, as well as his, I could not even walk properly, we had to drag him with ropes." When we arrived at the camp at the base, he was very grateful ".

What does it do to reach a peak filled with people?

Norbu Sherpa has reached the top seven times. He says that there are many more people on the Nepali side: the Tibetan part is easier, but the Chinese government issues fewer permits and the climbing is less interesting.

On the last ridge on the south side, on the Nepali side, there is only one fixed rope.

When there are a lot of people, "there can be two rows of people, one going up and another going down the hill," he says, adding, "Not everyone has that." only one rope. "

The most dangerous part is often the descent.

Many people push themselves to the top but, once they reach it, they "lose their motivation and their energy going down", especially when they realize that the journey is long and congested.

Is it worth it to reach the top?

Dujmovits says that despite his exhaustion, he felt "full liberation" when he reached the summit.

However, it is much more important to get off safely, even if you have not reached the top.

"I have lost many friends who have died during the descent over the years.Many accidents have occurred during the descent because people do not focus enough, especially in the case of l & # 39; 39 Everest, where crowds go up and down. "

"The real summit is back in camp at the base, when you come back, you can really feel the pleasure of everything you've done."

Many expedition guides feel that reaching the summit is extremely rewarding, but being physically prepared and choosing the right time to ride helps a lot in reducing risk.

Practicing climbing at 7,000 or 8,000 meters is essential for people to know "how their bodies react to these heights," says Norbu Sherpa.

The guide also encourages his teams to start climbing "very early" in the day, so people can get off before they start climbing other mountaineers.

Zimmerman climbed to Everest on the Tibetan side, but deliberately chose to wait another day before climbing to the top, so that it was less crowded.

She knew that her expedition might not make it to the top because of the weather, but she said it was worth it because she and her husband were "alone at the top".

"I can not even describe how one feels to be with her husband alone at the top of the world … We arrived at 3:45, we waited and we saw the sunrise."