KATHMANDU: At least five rope-fixing Sherpas successfully stood atop Mt Manaslu on Monday morning becoming the first team to climb the world's eighth highest peak in the autumn season, according to expedition organiser.

Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of the Seven Summit Treks, said that Karma Gyalzen Sherpa, Nga Tashi Sherpa, Damai Sarki Sherpa and Dawa Chiring from his company along with Phurba Tashi Sherpa from Mountain Experience Pvt Ltd successfully climbed the 8,163m-peak by fixing rope to the main summit point at 9:54am. "Karma Gyalzen Sherpa informed to base camp officials by walkie-talkie communication that they fixed the rope to the summit of world’s eighth highest peak."

The team made to the main summit after the mountain witnessed a fair weather, Sherpa quoted base camp officials as saying. More than 255 foreign climbers representing 20 teams, along with over 250 climbing Sherpas, will be attempting to climb the mountain after the team opened the route this season. "Nearly five hundred climbers including foreigners and Sherpas are all set to make their final summit pushes if weather allows," Sherpa added.

According to the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, at least 44 female mountaineers including four team leaders headed to Mt Manaslu for acclimatisation this season. “Felix Diaz Preito Mesana (20) from Spain and Japanese national Tatsuo Watanabe (72) are the youngest and eldest climbers who will be attempting to climb Mt Manaslu this season,” DoT official Talak Ram Pandey said.

A view of Manaslu Base Camp with the mountain peak above the clouds, on Monday, September 18, 2017. Photo courtesy: Arnold Coster

At least 255 foreign climbers from 35 countries had already reached Mt Manaslu base camp, he said, adding that there were 46 Chinese, 39 Russians, 18 Spanish and 13 German climbers among others.

According to DoT, Mt Manaslu has received the highest number of climbers this autumn compared to the past seasons. There were 106 foreign climbers who had obtained climbing permits in 2015 while the figure stood at 151 in 2016, the DOT record shows.

DoT has issued climbing permits to 333 members for different 12 mountains till date. There was one team each on Mt Lhotse and Mt Nuptse, Pandey said. South Korean Climber Hong Sung Taek is leading a seven-member team on Lhotse South Face while French Helias Jean Millerioux has headed to Mt Nuptse leading a three-member team, according to Pandey. Singaporean Kumaran Rasappan has been leading a team of six foreign climbers on Mt Makalu, he added.

Along with a seven-member team, 78-year-old Spanish climber Carlos Soria Fontan will make his second attempt on Mt Dhaulagiri in a couple of days after the Septuagenarian Spaniard returned to a lower camp after making a failed attempt on the mountain last week, according to Sherpa.

AUTUMN EXPEDITIONS (As of Sept 18)

Mountain

Team

Members

Manaslu

20

255

Dhaulagiri

2

10

Lhotse

1

7

Makalu

1

6

Nuptse

1

3

Putha Hiuchuli

1

8

Nagpai Gosum

1

2

Saribung

1

5

Tare Khang

1

2

Himlung Himal

1

11

Arniko Chuli

1

7

Mustang Himal

3

17

TOTAL

34

333

Source: DoT

(Updated)