KATHMANDU, MARCH 10
At least 400 foreign climbers are all set to attempt to climb the world's highest peak from Nepal side in the spring season, according to expedition organisers.
"There will be at least 400 foreign climbers on Mt Everest this season," Rishi Bhandari, General Secretary at Expedition Operators Association Nepal, who has compiled the expedition bookings, told THT.
Seven Summit Treks will have 65 members, the largest number of foreigners, followed by 8K Expeditions – 45 on Everest. Furtenbach Adventures has booked 40 clients for Everest south side while Imagine Nepal Treks will be handling three teams with 35 foreign members on Everest.
"We are all set to begin our expeditions to the top of the world mobilizing IFMGA guides including Tsering Pemba Sherpa and Pema Chhiring Sherpa as well as other trained Sherpa guides this season," Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director at 8K Expeditions said, adding that he will be leading the Everest/Lhotse expedition for the 12th time this season. Double 14 peaks Summiteer record holding climber Sanu Sherpa will be also leading our expeditions on Everest, Lakpa added.
SST and 14 Peaks Expeditions are preparing hard to provide the best services to over 65 foreign clients on Mt Everest, said SST Expedition Director Chhang Dawa Sherpa. "SST will also have the responsibility to fix a climbing route from Camp II to the summit point this season," he said, adding that his company will also lead rope fixing on Mt Makalu and Annapurna.
With Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality revising its base camp management regulations last week, expedition operators have already started ferrying climbing logistics to the base camp, Lakpa informed. "The record holder for summitting Mt Everest for a total of 28 times, Kami Rita Sherpa will also attempt the Everest ascent from Seven Summit Treks this spring," Chhang Dawa shared.
Iswari Paudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides, shared that there will be 31 foreign members from his company attempting to climb the world's highest peak. Elite Expedition has booked 20 foreign clients for Everest, co-owner Mingma David Sherpa informed.
Mingma Gelu Sherpa, Managing Director at Seven Summit Adventure, said that his company will have 15 foreign clients on Everest this season.
According to Pasang Sherpa, Chairman at Pioneer Adventure, at least 27 foreign members are all set to join Everest expedition from his company. "TAG Nepal has 28 clients on Mt Everest," Managing Director Tendi Sherpa shared.
Asian Trekking will have at least 25 members while Glacier Himalaya Treks (16), Ascent Himalayas (13), Mountain Experience (8), Satori Adventures (9), Shangri-La Nepal Treks (10), Expedition Himalaya.Com (7), Beyul Adventure (5), Snowy Horizon (8), Everest Parivar Treks (10), Kaitu Expedition (7), Peak Promotion (5), Makalu Adventure (8), Himalayan Ascent (9) and Himalaya Vision Treks will have at least two members on Mt Everest this season.
"Over 100 foreign members have also booked for Mt Lhotse and 35 for Mt Makalu," EoAN's general secretary Bhandari said. There will be other climbing expeditions on Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Himlung, Nuptse and Ama Dablam in the spring season, he added.
A 10-member team of icefall doctors have already left for the Everest Base camp to fix a climbing route up to Camp II while expedition operators are busy packing and supplying climbing logistics for the spring expeditions, he concluded.
