--- description: Some foreign mountaineers looking to ascend the world's highest peak in Nepal are divided between staying and going as Sherpas demand better compensation and improved safety conditions following a recent avalanche that killed 16 local guides title: Sherpa strike threat causes climbers to leave Everest image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6aa7fb6512795cab/69868b4c06f2c1666032e765/mount-everest-avalanche.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Nepal](/tag/nepal/) ## Nepal Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Climbers Start Leaving Everest As Sherpas Threaten to Strike by [Maddy Fry](/author/maddy-fry/) ## Maddy Fry Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 25, 2014 11:47 AM CUT  Mount Everest seen in 2011. Mount Everest seen in 2011.Kevin Frayer—AP by [Maddy Fry](/author/maddy-fry/) ## Maddy Fry Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 25, 2014 11:47 AM CUT Some would-be Mount Everest climbers are packing up and heading home as some Sherpas threaten to strike after a deadly avalanche, the BBC [reports](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27153239 "undefined"). The Sherpas, locals who do the heavy-lifting for foreign climbers seeking to make the treacherous ascent, are demanding better financial treatment and improved safety conditions in the wake of a disaster that killed 16 of their colleagues. Top Nepalese tourism officials are attempting to negotiate with the Sherpas in an effort to save this year’s climbing season. The Everest climb is all but impossible for foreign visitors without the help, knowledge and labor of the experienced Sherpas, who currently make from $3,000 to $6,000 each season. The country’s tourism ministry expressed hope that the talks between the Sherpas and the Nepalese government might salvage at least some of the season, which [generates](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/everest-avalanche-how-a-sherpa-strike-will-affect-nepal-s-tourist-industry-1.2617621 "undefined") about $3.3 million annually for Nepal in climbing fees alone. More than 300 foreign climbers were set to scale Everest’s peak this year. However, last week’s fatal accident caused many to head home over concerns for their own safety regardless of the Sherpas’ threats to strike. \[[BBC](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27153239 "undefined") and [Independent](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/nepalese-tourist-officials-travel-to-everest-to-stop-sherpa-strike-9280506.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/77042/everest-sherpa-strike/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/77042/everest-sherpa-strike/"},"headline":"Climbers Start Leaving Everest As Sherpas Threaten to Strike","datePublished":"2014-04-25T11:47:31.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T07:30:03.941Z","description":"Some foreign mountaineers looking to ascend the world's highest peak in Nepal are divided between staying and going as Sherpas demand better compensation and improved safety conditions following a recent avalanche that killed 16 local guides","url":"https://time.com/77042/everest-sherpa-strike/","keywords":["Nepal","strike"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6aa7fb6512795cab/69868b4c06f2c1666032e765/mount-everest-avalanche.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maddy Fry","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maddy-fry/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6aa7fb6512795cab/69868b4c06f2c1666032e765/mount-everest-avalanche.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Mount Everest on Oct. 27, 2011.","caption":"Mount Everest on Oct. 27, 2011.","creditText":"Kevin Frayer—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/nepal/","name":"Nepal"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/77042/everest-sherpa-strike/","name":"Climbers Start Leaving Everest As Sherpas Threaten to Strike"}}]}] ```