The spring climbing season for 2025 is expected to be a robust one, as per Rishi Bhandari, General Secretary of Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN).
Around 420 foreign climbers are expected to arrive in Nepal to scale the world's highest peak Mt Everest (8,848.86 metres) alone.
Similarly around 80 climbers have secured expedition teams to scale Mt Lhotse (8,516 metres). As a result, around 500 ground staff and Sherpas will be mobilised to accommodate and lead the climbers to their destination and back safely.
On Tuesday, the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) handed over ropes and necessary assignments to 8K Expeditions Pvt. Ltd. to build summit routes on Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse above Camp II.
The responsibility for clearing the path and installing ropes for the Everest and Lhotse expeditions for Spring 2025 has been handed over to a team of eight Sherpa guides, led by Aspiring Guide Ashok Lama including team members Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, Pem Nurbu Sherpa, Ming Dawa Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, Pasa Rinjee Sherpa, Pashtanjen Sherpa, and Tashi Nurbu Sherpa.
Depending on weather conditions, the team aims to complete rope fixing before the second week of May. Trained climbing guides of the fixing teams will thoroughly monitor the situation above Camp II and begin fixing ropes towards the summits of Everest and Lhotse, he explained.
"Similarly, over 50 tourists are eyeing the summit of Mt Annapurna (8,091 metres); 60 in Mt Makalu (8,463 metres); around 40 in Mt Kanchenjunga (8,586 metres); and 20 in Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 metres). Mountain guides and ground staff will also be mobilised in those regions in accordance to the number of clients respectively," he added.
Bhandari further assured that all members of EOAN have prepared themselves following a series of discussions with government stakeholders and local authorities to ensure safety a priority for all climbers as well as high altitude workers.