Sherpas spurn mountain after quake

Just when Nepal's climbing industry was recovering from last year's deadly avalanche on Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest in the West, another avalanche triggered by last month's earthquake killed 19 people and ended another climbing season.

The world-famous Sherpa guides and others in the climbing business are worried that the disasters will have a devastating impact on mountaineering in Nepal, a vital source of income for guides and for the impoverished nation's economy.

Each year, thousands of foreigners attempt to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Sherpa guides can earn up to $7,000 after a successful summit bid, while those who work at Qomolangma Base Camp can receive half that amount - huge sums in a nation where the annual per capita income is around $700.