Sherpa climbs to clean up Everest

Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than anyone in history, and now he is heading back up Mount Everest, not for the fame or glory, but in the name of environmental protection.

Apa (49) has become increasingly concerned about the damage inflicted on the world's highest mountain by both climate change and the waste left by careless climbers.

This year season he hopes to conquer Everest for the 19th time, and he will use the trip to focus attention on how climate change is affecting the Himalayas -- and also bring back down as much rubbish as he can carry.

"I am not looking for recognition or doing this just to beat my own record. My objective is to highlight the environmental degradation of the mountain and draw attention to the issue of global warming," he said.

Decades of expeditions have left Everest less than pristine, with discarded equipment, food containers, human excrement and even the corpses of unlucky adventurers littering its slopes.

As the leader of the 40-member Eco Everest expedition -- which set off from Kathmandu last Monday -- Apa will be among those picking up rubbish from the mountain. "Bad things are happening on Everest and to Everest not only because of global warming but also because we are treating our god badly," said Apa.

He also said the tourism industry was taking its toll on the 8,848-metre peak. "Due to heavy commercialisation of Everest, the sacred spiritual aspect of the mountain is fading away and this has become very worrying for the mountain people," he said.