KATHMANDU, MAY 9
A team of rope-fixing climbers successfully scaled Mt Everest from Nepal side after they opened a climbing route to the summit point of the world's highest peak on Friday afternoon.
Expedition Operators Association Nepal also confirmed that the team from 8K Expeditions successfully opened a climbing route to the summit point on Mt Everest.
Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director and Expedition leader of 8K Expeditions said from the base camp that an seven-member team of rope-fixing climbers reached the summit point becoming the season's first to scale Mt Everest.
"Our team stood atop Mt Everest at 4:50pm becoming the season's first to scale the tallest mountain," Sherpa said.
The team led by Aspirant guide Ashok Lama along with IFMGA guide Tsering Pemba Sherpa, Pem Nurbu Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, and Pas Tenzi Sherpa scaled Everest opening the summit route, according to Pemba Sherpa, Chairman at 8K Expeditions. The team had opened a route to the south summit from Camp IV yesterday.
"Under the coordination of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOA), our elite 8K rope-fixing team successfully fixed the ropes to the top today - unlocking an early and extended summit window under stable weather conditions. This achievement not only marks the official start of the Everest season, but also enhances climber safety, reduces traffic, and provides greater flexibility for summit attempts in the coming days," a post by 8K Expeditions read.
More than 400 world climbers along with their support staff have been waiting for fair weather to make summit attempts on Mt Everest after acclimatization in the Khumbu region for over a month. The climbers have also engaged in the camp rotations to prepare themselves for the summit pushes.
"Now, the world climbers along with their high altitude workers can make their summit pushes on Mt Everest after the rope fixing team opened the route," EoAN general Secretary Rishi Bhandari said. Expedition Operator Association Nepal has assigned 8K Expeditions to fix the ropes on Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse this season.
