KATHMANDU, APRIL 27

A total of 109 teams have so far acquired mountaineering expedition permit in this spring season.

According to the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the expedition teams have already started leaving for the climb attempts of 25 peaks and mountains. The teams comprise 876 aspiring climbers from home and aboard.

As per the expedition permits issued by the Mountaineering Section, 302 people of 38 teams have alone the permits to climb the world's highest peak Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) measuring 8848.86 meters this spring season. Likewise, 97 of nine teams are allowed to climb the Ama Dablam (6,814 meters).

Similarly, four teams each will be attempting to scale the Annapurna (8,011 meters) , Nuptse (7,861 meters), Makalu (8,463) while two teams will be climbing the Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters). One team has the permit to climb the Lhotse (8,516 meters).

Likewise, four teams each are so far allowed to scale the Himlung Peak and the Thapa or Dhambus Peak.

The Department so far collects 448.94 million in royalty from the mountaineering permit.