Mt. Everest—A low point in Olympic history? Photograph: Getty Images

It’s almost May and the beginning of the spring Mount Everest or Mount Qomolangma climbing season. Usually this time of year expeditions parked at base camps on both the north and south sides of the world’s highest peak are preparing for a summit bid in the narrow window of decent weather before the summer monsoons begin ravaging the peak. This spring, however, the window is very narrow since the Chinese plan to tote the Olympic torch to the 29,035-foot summit sometime in the next couple weeks.

The Chinese government, ever sensitive to bad press and the violent protests in Tibet against Chinese rule, has established draconian measures to thwart pro-Tibetan protests on the great peak, including closing the Tibetan side of the mountain; restricting foreign coverage of the torch ascent; and pressuring Nepal to crack down on Everest climbers and limit their activities with military force.

The northern Tibetan side of the peak is closed this spring to all expeditions except their own. The North Ridge route, one of the easiest ways up Everest, is usually clogged with climbers this time of the year. But in 2008, it’s empty. Meanwhile the south Nepalese side is jammed with expeditions and climbers who are banned from climbing above Camp II at 21,300 feet until after May 10, the date the torch is expected to reach the summit and be safely back down in occupied Tibet.

Media coverage of the torch ascent, which is supposed to include live broadcasts across China, is extremely limited. The Chinese government, worried that the presence of western journalists will incite more rioting, made a contentious decision last week to allow foreign journalists only 10 days to travel from Beijing to Everest Base Camp and back. This included only a scant three days from Beijing, just above sea level, to Base Camp at 16,800 feet or about a third of the time normally allowed to acclimatize to the lower oxygen at high elevations. Foreign media complained about the health risks to the Beijing Olympic Committee, who said they would allow the group to leave 24 hours earlier—as if, say the experts, that would make a difference.

Nepalese authorities on the mountain’s south side are cooperating with China to ensure that no protests or bad press will disrupt the Chinese torch ascent. Ekmani Nepal with the Home Ministry says, “The reason we have deployed police and army in Mount Everest is to secure the area for the Olympic torch and control any pro-Tibetan protests in the area. There shouldn’t be any anti-Chinese activities on Nepali soil. The security personnel deployed in Camp II of Mount Everest could use force, including gunfire if need be, to prevent anti-China protests.” Another Ministry spokesman, Mod Raj Dotel, says the 25-member security detail of soldiers and police “have been given orders to stop any protest on the mountain using whatever means necessary, including use of weapons." He notes, however, that the use of deadly force is a last resort. Later the Ministry claimed that the use of deadly force was a media fabrication—despite the fact that their own spokesman said it.

Last week an American mountaineer, William Brant Holland, was booted from Everest base camp by Nepalese authorities after a “Free Tibet” banner was found in his pack in violation of rules instituted this spring to ban Pro-Tibet protests. Holland, from Richmond, Virginia, has been ticking off the Seven Summits, the seven highest points on the seven continents, and only has Everest and Mount Vinson in Antarctica left to climb. Apparently he won’t be finishing any time soon since Nepal will undoubtedly bar him from entry for at least a couple years.

As of today, the second Olympic torch is supposedly at Base Camp and the Chinese mountaineers are preparing to begin their ascent. They plan on reaching the summit on May 1, a Chinese holiday, to maximize press coverage. Stay tuned to see what happens. Will they make it? Will the torch blow out? Will Tibet ever be free?

Okay, does all this sound crazy to you? It does to me. The torch events and Chinese ascent to the top of Everest seems to be a huge publicity stunt and denigrates the spirit of friendship, harmony, and sportsmanship symbolized by the Olympic torch. What do you think? Go to the Climbing Forum and write your thoughts.