Katmandu - A team of mountaineers led by a veteran Sherpa guide has flown to Mount Everest to begin an expedition that aims to clear away tons of garbage left on the world's highest peak.
The expedition team plans to bring down 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of garbage from the slopes of Everest during the spring climbing season. The team's leader, Apa, has climbed Everest a record 20 times.
Apa's team hopes to bring down 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms) of garbage from the lower part of the mountain, and another 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) from the area near the 29,035-foot-high (8,850-meter-high) summit.
The team will get help bringing down the garbage by members of other expeditions who will be paid 100 rupees ($1.40) for every kilogram of trash they carry down. - Sapa-AP