• Madison Mountaineering staff carry waste out of Lobuche East High Camp in Nepal’s Everest region.

  • Madison Mountaineering Sirdar and Guide Aang Phurba Sherpa package up old fixed line cleaned from Annapurna 1’s North Face climbing route.

  • Madison Mountaineering staff pick up trash from the final stretch of the trail to Annapurna North Base Camp at 4,025m / 13,200’ in Nepal’s wild and spectacular Miristi Khola River Gorge.

  • Climbers from a neighboring team lend a hand as Madison Mountaineering staff gather trash from Lobuche East High Camp (5,180m / 17,000’) in the Himalayas of Nepal.

  • Discarded fuel cans gathered by Madison Mountaineering staff from Ama Dablam, Nepal.

  • Sirdar and Guide Aang Phurba Sherpa (center) in Nepal’s Khare Village with members of a Madison Mountaineering team after a successful cleanup effort on nearby Mera Peak.

  • Carrying trash out of the mountains after a successful cleanup on Annapurna 1, the planet’s 10th highest peak.

  • Madison Mountaineering Advance Base Camp Manager Khomba Thapa Mugar hunts for trash with Sirdar Aang Phurba Sherpa in the wide expanse of Everest Camp 2.

  • Removing trash from the flanks of the planet’s highest peak at Everest Camp 2 (6,500m / 21,300’).

  • Madison Mountaineering staff Dorje Sherpa and Dawa Sherpa pick up trash at Everest Camp 2 at 21,300’ / 6,500m.

  • Madison Mountaineering staff remove trash from the North Annapurna Glacier on Annapurna 1 at 5,050m / 16,575’.

  • Climber Ryan Mitchell (right) with Madison Mountaineering staff Aang Phurba Sherpa, Yasir Ali, Murtaza Ali and Muhammad Amin after a successful trash cleanup session in K2 Base Camp.

  • Sorting and weighing waste gathered from K2 Base Camp.

  • A Madison Mountaineering team picks up trash near K2 Base Camp on Pakistan’s Godwin Austen Glacier.

  • Madison Mountaineering chef and trekking guide Nasir Ali with trash gathered from K2 Base Camp.

  • Trash gathered from K2 Advance Base Camp.

  • Madison Mountaineering Sirdar and Guide Aang Phurba Sherpa tugs a tent from the ice at the base of the Abruzzi Spur, K2.

  • Casey, a Madison Mountaineering climber, gathers waste from the outskirts of K2 Base Camp.

  • A Madison Mountaineering team celebrates a successful cleanup at K2 Base Camp in Summer 2025.

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Photos by Terray Sylvester

Madison Mountaineering Foundation

Donate

The Madison Mountaineering Foundation supports direct action to remove waste and restore the environment in high-altitude climbing destinations worldwide.

Through conservation initiatives we strive to unite climbers with local partners in a shared vision of a sustainable future for the alpine communities and ecosystems we cherish.

Join us to support the planet’s precious mountain environments and the communities that rely on them!

Upcoming Project: 

Prior Projects: 

  • Environmental Restoration in the K2 Region of Pakistan, Summer 2025
    • Total Trash Collected: 274.7 kg / 605.6 lbs
    • Staff & Climber Volunteers: 25
  • Annapurna 1 and Lhotse, Spring 2024*
    • Total Trash Collected: 1,000 kg / 2,200 lbs
    • Staff & Climber Volunteers: 26
  • Khumbu 6000m Peaks, Fall 2023*
    • Total Trash Collected: 910 kg / 2,002 lbs
    • Staff & Climber Volunteers: 26

*Annapurna 1, Lhotse and Khumbu 6000m Peaks projects were untaken prior to the 501c3 designation of the Madison Mountaineering Foundation; work was coordinated in logistics and effort by Madison Mountaineering, adjunct to the guide service under generous funding of client/sponsors.

Reach out with any questions to: Foundation@madisonmountaineering.com

As a registered 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 33-2736601, we adhere to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.

Scope of the Problem

Since the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, an estimated 50+ tons of trash have been left on the mountain. Waste includes empty oxygen cylinders, food packaging, tents, ropes, broken ladders and fuel containers.

On average, each high-altitude climber in the Himalayas generates over 25 pounds of waste per expedition. With over 6,000 summits and hundreds of expeditions since the 1990s, the accumulation of discarded gear and trash has become a serious concern.

Local groups like Nepal’s Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee manage waste at Everest Base Camp and trekking routes, but the problem worsens higher up.

Despite stricter regulations and ongoing cleanup missions, new trash continues to appear each climbing season. Sustained cleanup efforts and a stronger emphasis on responsible expedition practices are now more critical than ever.

Why It Matters:

  • Environmental Impact: Everest’s high-altitude ecosystem is fragile. Waste doesn’t biodegrade easily and pollutes snow, ice, and nearby water sources.
  • Health Risks: Trash and human waste can contaminate water used by climbers and local communities.
  • Climate Concerns: Melting glaciers are revealing decades-old garbage, increasing the risk of chemical exposure.
  • Cultural Responsibility: Everest is a sacred site for many; preserving its integrity honors local traditions and global heritage.
When we started the cleanups in the mountains, in the beginning I didn’t understand the importance. But now I totally understand. Actually we have to save the mountains. We have to protect the environment and clean up all the trash on the mountains. This is very good. It means, simply, if we love the mountains – if we love nature – definitely they will love us in the same way. I’m very grateful to work as part of this cleanup project.

Leaving K2 in a better state than when we found it was one of the most rewarding parts of our climb. I’m so grateful to see a company like Madison Mountaineering cleaning up these peaks, and even letting the community be a part of it!

Meet the Madison Mountaineering Foundation Team
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