KATHMANDU: The long wait has finally been over for Mount Everest climbers as experienced mountaineering guides on Wednesday afternoon made it to the top of the world opening the climbing route.

A nine-member team of guides comprising local Sherpas reached the summit at around 5:05 pm today, Gyanendra Shrestha, an official at the Department of Tourism told THT Online from the base camp.

The Sherpas -- Gyalzen Dorje (Himalayan Experience), Ang Pemba (International Mountain Guides), Nima Tshering (Himalayan Guides), Sera Gyalzen (Asian Treks), Pasang Tenzing (Ascent Himalaya), Mingma (Seven Summits), Mingma Tsiri (NCC), Ang Gyalzen (Arun Treks)and Lhakpa Tsering (Himalayan Guides) -- successfully fixed the climbing ropes from the South Col to the summit after the hard work of two days, Shrestha added.

No climber had reached the top of the world in 2014 and 2015 owing to different avalanches including the one triggered by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake on April 25 last year.

But now, with the ropes fixed, climbers waiting at various camps would begin their journey up to the summit from tomorrow, the official hoped.

Accordingly, two expeditions are attempting to scale the highest peak on Thursday and Friday respectively, according to Ishwori Paudel of the Himalayan Guides.

Ronneie Muhl of the Adventure Global said his expedition would attempt the summit on Friday.

A climbing route up to South Col (7,906 m) was opened on Friday.

Earlier, 10 mountain guides were selected from different expedition teams, including International Mountain Guides, Himalayan Experience, Madison Mountaineering, Adventure Consultants and Indian Army Everest Massif.

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