As the spring hiking season was drawing to a close in May, dozens of porters were already strapping heavy loads to their backs to begin dismantling Everest Base Camp.
Peaceful moments were few and far between along the trail from Lukla — the small Nepalese town known as the “gateway to Everest” — to the foot of the world’s tallest mountain. Yaks, donkeys and tourists clogged the winding mountain paths and swaying suspension bridges, raising serious questions about the sustainability of the increasingly congested route.
