A climber has raised concerns about GPS inaccuracies and time settings at Camp 4 on Mount Everest, which is located on the southern slope in Nepal.
Speaking at a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to celebrate Everest Day on May 29 in Kathmandu, Pasang Tendi Sherpa questioned why GPS readings show the camp as being in China and why devices switch to Chinese time.
“Why does the GPS location show China at Camp 4 of Mount Everest on the Nepal side?” Sherpa asked, urging authorities to address the matter. “iPhones and watches automatically start giving Chinese time when climbers reach Camp IV. Are we climbing the peak in our own country or climbing a Chinese peak?”
Sherpa said that such problems are dangerous for climbers who rely on accurate weather forecasts for a successful summit.
Mount Everest straddles the border between Nepal and China and can be climbed from either side. The issue of GPS inaccuracies is particularly concerning given the mountain’s binational location and the importance of precise navigation for climbers.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, which oversees mountaineering activities in Nepal, has yet to respond to these concerns. Climbing guides used to share these oddities in private conversations. However, this is the first time a climber spoke of this in public function.
Sherpa’s remarks have sparked discussions among the mountaineering community and officials about the reliability and accuracy of GPS data and time settings in high-altitude regions.
Everest Day, which commemorates the first ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, 1953, serves as a significant occasion for addressing various issues related to mountaineering in Nepal.
