Everest permit dodger will be fined, deported

A SOUTH African who attempted to climb Mount Everest without permission has been arrested in Nepal where he faces a $22 000 (R289 000) fine -double the cost of the permit he was trying to avoid.

Ryan Sean Davy handed himself in to authorities in Kathmandu on Tuesday after being caught last week hiding in a cave near Everest’s base camp without a permit.

The 43-year-old began swearing at and threatening officials from the tourism department during questioning and was arrested under Nepal’s strict public order laws, tourist police Inspector Tulasha Khatiwada said.

He is in custody and will appear in court next week to face charges related to his Everest attempt.

“He will be fined and deported as per the Tourism Act of Nepal and may face a further penalty for misbehaving with the police,” the director of the tourism department, Dinesh Bhattarai, said.

Foreigners have to pay the Nepal government $11 000 (R144 000) for permission to climb the 8 848m peak -- a major earner for the impoverished country.

Davy could also be blacklisted from the Himalayan nation for five years, or face a 10-year climbing ban when he appears in court next week.

The South African, who describes himself on social media as a film director and producer, was caught a short distance from Everest base camp and ordered off the mountain.

He had pitched a tent away from the other climbers in an attempt to dodge government officials who monitor all Everest ascents.

He told officials he had climbed alone as far as camp two, at 6 400m, to acclimatise in preparation for a solo summit bid.

His antics have angered many in the close-knit climbing community, who say the South African would have put himself and others in danger if he had attempted to reach the summit alone.

“If anything had happened, other teams would have to come to his rescue and be exposed to unnecessary dangers,” Nepal Mountaineering Association head Ang Tsering Sherpa said.