Seven expeditions issued permits to climb Mt Everest

Kathmandu: The government has started issuing mountaineering permits to expeditions to climb Mt Everest, the world’s highest peak, in the spring season this year. According to the Department of Tourism, so far 17 women and 60 men from seven groups of climbers have taken permission to climb the Mt Everest (Sagarmatha). 

Department’s Director Liladhar Awasthi said permission has been granted to the mountaineering teams to climb Mt Everest and 29 other smaller mountains till date. He said that the climbers who have got permission are heading towards the destination. 

A total of 198 climbers from different countries, including Nepal, have so far obtained permission to climb Mt Everest, according to the department’s data. A total of 66 climbers from six groups have taken permission for Annapurna-1 and eight from one mountaineering group for Annapurna-5. A total of 15 climbers from one mountaineering group and 15 from one mountaineering group in Lhotse have got permission to climb Makalu. 

The route to the second camp of Mt Everest is currently being opened and fixed. It has been difficult to prepare the route due to strong winds in the Sagarmatha region for the past two days. According to the Department, the icefall doctors are waiting for favorable weather as the wind is blowing at a speed of 35 kilometers per hour till last evening and pieces of ice continue to fall. 

Likewise, work is currently underway to fix a ladder in the Khumbu Icefall area and hooks in Hanging Air. “Four ladders and 12 hooks and nails have already been fixed in the icefall area,” said Director Awasthi. So far, 1,100 meters of route has been constructed. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has deputed an icefall doctor to open the mountaineering route from the Base Camp to the second camp of Mt Everest. A 10-member team has been deployed for this season, the SPCC said. Both teams will make a safe passage for Everest climbers. 

The climbers who open the route to Khumbu icefall are called the ‘icefall doctors’. The Mountaineering Expeditions Operators’ Association will carry out rope-fixing work from the second camp to the summit only after the route to the second camp of Mt. Everest is ready. An eight-member team led by Ashok Lama has already been deputed for the purpose. 

The association has given the management responsibility of fixing ropes and making way for climbing Mt. Everest this season to 8K Expedition Company. Spring season is considered to be the best season for climbing mountains including Mt. Everest. A significant number of foreigners come to climb Mt. Everest this season.