KATHMANDU, MAY 08

At least nine climbers successfully scaled Mt Nuptse in the Everest region becoming the season's first team to climb the 7,861-metre mountain this afternoon.

According to Iswari Paudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides Pvt. Ltd, at least three members of HG Nuptse Expedition along with six Sherpa climbers stood atop the mountain at 1:30 pm.

Team leader Garrett Madison, Krisli Melesk Estonia and Richard Powell Draves JR from US along with Aang Phurba Sherpa, Mingdorchi Sherpa, Chheder Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa, Dawa Tenji Sherpa and Chheten Dorjee Sherpa made it to the summit point opening the climbing route, Paudel said.

'The team scaled the mountain fixing ropes to the summit point,' he said adding, 'With the opening of a summit route, other climbers will make their final summit push in the next few days.'

At least 63 climbers representing six different teams have obtained climbing permits for Mt Nuptse this spring season, Bigyan Koirala, an official at the Department of Tourism, said.