Kathmandu, September 3

More than 200 foreign climbers, along with their high attitude workers, are set to attempt to climb Mt Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak, this autumn.

According to the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the DoT has issued climbing permits to 108 foreign climbers of 12 expedition teams for Mt Manaslu (8,163 m) as of today, while 73 more climbers representing six different teams have also applied for Manaslu climbing permits.

“At least 181 foreign climbers, along with their high attitude workers, are all set to attempt to climb Mt Manaslu in autumn this year. The Department of Tourism has issued climbing permits to 150 members for nine mountains till date,” Rameshwar Niraula, a DoT official told THT. “The DoT expects over 250 foreign climbers on Mt Manaslu this season,” he added.

According to him, a four-member team led by James White Morrison from the US also plans to make a ski descent from the top of Mt Lhotse, the world’s fourth highest mountain, this season. “The team has already obtained ski and climbing permits for the same,” he said, adding that the team has reportedly hired two icefall doctors to assist them in fixing a route from Mt Everest base camp.

Mingma Sherpa, managing director at Seven Summit Treks, said his company would be running four expeditions with altogether 49 members on Mt Manaslu this season. “A 15-member team led by Arnold Coster has already reached Samagaun on its way to Mt Manaslu base camp while 34 more members will be obtaining permits in a day or two,” Sherpa said.

Koichi Ezkai (Japan), Benjamin David Darce (US), Catherine Jane Sarah (Australia), Ryuseki Hiraoka (Japan), Albu Radu Cornel (Romania), Oskana Morneva (Russia), Shikoda Kiyomitsu (Japan), Morton Jamie Andrew (UK), Angelika Herczeg (Hungary), Juan Pablo Mohr Prieto (Chile) and Cha Jin Chol (Korea), among others, will be leading different teams on Mt Manaslu this season, according to Niraula.

Among the climbers, Spanish climber Sergi Mingote will be attempting to climb Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Manaslu this autumn.

According to a DoT official, there were as many 255 foreign climbers who had obtained climbing permits for Mt Manaslu last autumn while the figure stood at 151 in the year 2016.