Mount Everest’s Famous Feature, Hillary Step Collapsed

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 Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak has become more dangerous for the climbers as its famous feature collapsed. Hillary Step has collapsed, which has made the climber’s journey to it more difficult. It is assumed that Hillary Step has fallen as a prey to the catastrophic earthquake of Nepal in 2015. Hillary Step stood on the mountain's southeast ridge and is the last great challenge before reaching the top of the Everest.

The news of its collapsing was confirmed by British mountaineer Tim Mosedale on Facebook after he reached the summit on 16 May. He said that the loss of the Step was "the end of an era," while he was speaking to the BBC. He said, "It is associated with the history of Everest, and it is a great shame a piece of mountaineering folklore has disappeared."

The American Himalayan Foundation pictures posted back in May 2016 seemed to show that the feature’s shape changed. But due to the heavy snowfall it was difficult to tell for sure. But this year, due to the less snowfall it was easy to confirm that the feature has collapsed.

Mr Mosedale wrote on Facebook, "It was reported last year, and indeed I climbed it last year, but we weren't sure for certain that 'The Step' had gone because the area was blasted with snow.” "This year, however, I can report that the chunk of rock named 'The Hillary Step' is definitely not there anymore," he concluded. He told BBC “It could well just be gravity, but I would suspect the earthquake was the cause.”

For the climbers, the slope covered by the snow would be easier to climb. It is the matter of concern for those already battling low oxygen and frostbite conditions at the top of the Everest. British mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington said, “Getting stuck near the Step could be fatal.” The BBC's Richard Galpin reported that the routes up Everest from Nepal and Tibet are already very hazardous where four climbers were killed on Sunday.

Source: BBC (Asia).

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