This June , a group of young sherpa conservationists are organizing a race to draw attention to the devastating effects of Global Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in the Himalayas. The Beat the GLOF Action Run will be the highlight of the Imja Tsho Action Event 2009, and has been initiated by Nepalese mountaineer Dawa Steven Sherpa. The race will demonstrate that even the fastest runner cannot escape from a GLOF, a flood which is caused when lakes formed by melting ice burst their natural dams. Imja Tsho, located along the popular trekking route to Mt.Everest, is the fastest growing glacial lake in the Himalayas.This is posing a threat to mountaineers and local residents.

The action event will include ‘Khumbu Festival’ that will showcase Sherpa culture. The festival will feature the official inauguration of a centre which will help local people become “citizen-scientists” and Sherpas from the Eco Everest Expeditions 2008 and 2009 will share their experiences on using environment friendly equipments at high altitude.

The event is being organized by a group of  Sherpa conservationists in partnership with iDEA, a Nepalese NGO.