Expedition to clear thousands of tons of rubbish from Mt. Everest

A team of mountaineers led by a veteran Sherpa guide flew Wednesday to Mount Everest on an expedition to clear away tons of trash left on the world's highest peak.

Since Everest was first conquered in 1953, thousands of people have climbed it, leaving behind the empty oxygen bottles, ropes, tents and other garbage that made their journey possible.

Nepal's government has since imposed regulations that require climbers to bring down everything they take up the mountain or lose their deposit, but the slopes are still littered with debris from past climbs.

The team that left Kathmandu on Wednesday — led by Apa, a Sherpa who has climbed Everest a record 20 times — plans to bring down 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of garbage during the spring climbing season.

The team hopes to clear 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms) of garbage from the lower part of the mountain and another 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) from near the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) summit.

The garbage will be carried down by expedition members as well as by porters and guides of other expeditions, who will be given 100 rupees ($1.4) for every kilogram they haul out.